TAKE ME WITH YOU: MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME: San Jose Del Monte Bulaca...

TAKE ME WITH YOU: MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME: San Jose Del Monte Bulaca...: "Travelling takes us  away from home , but more important, it finds  homes  for us everywhere." March of 2007 I went to Manila to work.  T...

MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME: San Jose Del Monte Bulacan

"Travelling takes us away from home, but more important, it finds homes for us everywhere."

March of 2007 I went to Manila to work.  Though I have mixed emotions.  Going to Manila is not that easy living my two kids behind in Davao with my parents, but I don't have a choice but to leave them for a while and work. And to meet my second family, the SACMON FAMILY.


Tough decision I guess.  Need to balance my needs and the needs of my children.  Even if I am 45 minutes far away from my children I feel the love and the acceptance of the SACMON FAMILY.


The SACMON Family residence is located at Sto. Cristo, Tialo, SJDM Bulacan.  Near Tialo Bridge.

Loneliness is part of my travel but yeah its true that even you are far away from home and you have family who cared so much about you nothing to be afraid of, still the same you feel at HOME.

Jane, Diane, Nanay and Allan

I stayed with them for almost a year.  Nanay Purificacion, Diane, Allan and Bebe are my closest in the family.

Bebe, Nanay and Diane

In my day-off we usually go to the market and walk down Tialo Bridge.

Or ride on their jeepy going to Sapang Palay and touring me around SJDM, Bulacan.

The most part I love from my stay here in SJDM is the food Nanay cook.  I love her LAING so much ( I miss it already ).

My stay is not that quiet as well as others might say. I miss my kids.  I miss Davao.  Sad but I have to go back home, the home I surely called my HOME. But I promised Nanay I will come back and visit her soon in Sto. Cristo Tialo SJDM, Bulacan.

TRAVEL with my FATHER

TRAVEL with my FATHER

TRAVEL with my FATHER

 Father's Day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, Paternal bond, and the influence of fathers in society. 

Here in the Philippines we celebrate FATHER'S DAY every 3rd Sunday of June. 


I am still looking for a gift for my father, I cannot think of anything that can make him happy.  Since I was born my father is the only bread winner of our family.  He provides all of my needs, since I am the only child, he made it possible he can give me the best of everything. 


What are the things that my father gave me?

• my LIFE
• my JOY
• my FUTURE 

Knowing that my father is the only MAN in my LIFE.  My constant companion, my mentor and  my first professor.  I am not talking about parental love or material keepsakes.  I mean here the guidance and expectations that help shape, form and prepare me for life.

During my 18th Bday

 I was taught to always say please and always say thank you. To stand up when introduced to someone. To look people in the eye and make sure your handshake is firm.

 I was taught to be courteous and civil: Don’t interrupt others when they’re talking. Take your hat off in the house. Offer your seat to older people and women in a crowded room or on the bus/jeepneys. Hold the door open for the person behind.

As a family, we're all in this together.  My father will always say to me, Never to disgrace us.  Remember who you are and who you represent.  For GOD sake, don't get your name in the newspaper for negative purposes.  


My father gave me more than just rules to follow.

During my daughter's recognition

As I grew older,  his instructions became my advice:

Think for yourself. Remember that the world doesn’t owe you a living. Be polite but demand the same in return. Respect is something that is earned, not automatically given by virtue of wealth or standing. Be fair and loyal to your employer but it has to flow both ways.

The list goes on.  If some of it suggests a stern personality.  It's only a partial picture of a man.  And that is my FATHER.


Well the perfect gift I can give my father is my BIG THANK YOU and my BIG HUG,  for without him I will not become a strong woman now.


TO ALL FATHER'S out there....

TAKE ME WITH YOU: BUDA MEMOIR

TAKE ME WITH YOU: BUDA MEMOIR: November 25, 2011.   Going to BUDA  (Bukidnon-Davao) is a great adventure for us living here in the city.  We only go there for summer to...

BUDA MEMOIR

November 25, 2011.  Going to BUDA  (Bukidnon-Davao) is a great adventure for us living here in the city.  We only go there for summer to cool down, but the group decided to go there for a change.  Buda is the favorite destination of travelers who choose to unwind and relax from the bustling metropolis, all thanks to its cool climate and clean environment.

Our batchmate offer a place for us to stay-in, thanks to Dimples Vasquez and Chis Vazquez  for accommodating us to their friends rest house just near Seagull Mountain Resort.

What cool  rest house they have.  The place itself is very peaceful, clean and cold.

As soon as we arrived we are all  freezing.  We let ourselves warm  a little bit.

And at night we have our palatable dinner.  Our so-called Chef of our batch Allan Armecin, grilled pork barbecue and chicken.  Thanks Chef. 

When it is cold freezing what will be a good activity to start so that children would enjoy their stay?  Hmp, your right!!!!  CAMPFIRE. 

With marshmallow and hot dogs on a stick. FTW!!!

Look my daughter enjoy roasting marshmallows and hotdogs over a campfire. hahahaha….

 How does it taste Chelsea?…hmmmmm…taste  so yummy…..

Well that makes our first night at Buda.  Being in one house and hanging out together. Food was the first thing, but we got to kind of chill out and make jokes, and it was basically the whole thing, not one thing specifically that stands out for our CHILL OUT GROUP.

visit my other site AMAYA CHIKA for more stories about MY TRAVEL in BUDA.

ESCAPADE at NIA DAM BANSALAN

Year 2009.  I visited the Municipality of Bansalan, Davao Del Sur. Bansalan was formerly called Miral.  It was established in 1952.  Bansalan was said to have gotten its name from a Bagobo datu named Dansalan whose tribal folks were the original inhabitants of the place. A reporting error by the early surveyors transposed the name to Bansalan and somehow became the official name on record.

photo from  photoblog.mindanao.com

The economic life of people there mostly dependent to planting and harvesting rice, corn, bananas, mango trees, coconut trees and sugar cane are grown in the lowlands while coffee, vegetables, cut flowers and fruits are grown in the colder highlands at the foot of Mt. Apo.  Bansalan is located at the lowlands of Mt. Apo.

photo from kapetabay.com 

There are many places to see at Bansalan:  

• Mainit Hot Spring, in Brgy. Caburan, is located 30 kms. west of Digos City in a forest setting 365 m. above sea level.  Another hot spring, in Brgy. Managa, is located 30 kms. from the poblacion and 200 m. above sea level.
• The 19-hectare Mt. Carmel Rural Life Center, in Brgy. Kinuskusan, is known worldwide for its innovative agricultural technology.  Foreign and local agricultural students stay here to immerse themselves in farming systems and perform hands-on research.
• AMG Mango Plantation;  Hillcrest Poultry Farm and  Lao Integrated Farm (Brgy. Eman).  The Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center, a conservation area in Brgy. Kinuskusan, is famous for its sloping agricultural land technology (SALT).
• The Balutakay Trail is another route up Mt. Apo.
• and last but not the least, my fave place to see is  the 65-million peso NIA Dam, an earth-filled reservoir dam, built in the 1990s.

NIA DAM Bansalan, Davao del Sur (photo using my mobile cam)

I did not waste time to pack my things and headed to NIA DAM.  One Hell of a Long Walk.  Having fun but staying safe.

Many children are having fun swimming and sliding at NIA DAM.  What a big pool for them. 

Let's face it, with the type of climate we have, almost any place outdoors is a good place to have a picnic, but this place is AWESOME!!!!

It has some wonderful, hilly, grassy areas where you can throw down a blanket and enjoy the solitude. But there's one great little area that's perfect for picnics, at the top of the NIA DAM.  It's a little triangle slice of grass just before you head into the picnic place, wherein you can see the lake at the back of NIA DAM.  


Hope the Local Government of Bansalan will make NIA DAM more beautiful and exciting to visit and  for tourist to enjoy. 

BACK AGAIN: DAVAO EAGLE RIDGE RESORT a Garden Resort in Upper Ulas Davao

December 28,2010.  Ateneo Dance Troupe had their reunion held at DAVAO EAGLE RIDGE RESORT.  It is just a few meters away from Ulas-Toril Intersection.  Owned by Carmen Cayetano-Molina, who also owned Casa Ruby at Dona Vicenta Village in Davao City.


Prior to the said event we had our ocular visit at the place with Mrs. Ludivina Quiros, ADT Moderator and Kris Ybanez.

one of the room at Davao Eagle Ridge Resort

The venue is good for weddings, birthdays, picnics, office parties and even seminars.

THE POOL

                         

Relaxing,,,hehehehehe

for wedding reception

outdoor games

For those who are planning to have seminars, conference, retreats, team-building activities and workshop, this garden resort is good for you.  They have a mid-sized function room with bedrooms around the hall.  Corporate groups can unwind while working by renting out their nice and comfy conference room which can accommodate to fifty to sixty persons.

We rented the whole place just near the pool.  It was fun, we had a good time, great gifts coming from our moderator, and great prizes too.

playground for kids with bridge

DAVAO EAGLE RIDGE RESORT cater our party.
Bon Appetit

reminiscing our dance

smile 

my ADT FAMILY

Davao Eagle Ridge Resort is back in business. Accepting bookings and reservations.  For more info please visit their website DAVAO EAGLE RIDGE GARDEN RESORT.

  

MATI ESCAPADE

Year 1994, the Ateneo Dance Troupe were invited by the Davao Oriental Tourism.  I was in my first year in college then when we are chosen to showcase dance number for the pageant, Bb. Tourism 1994.

Our meeting place at SILVERIOS BOUTIQUE-UM ARCADE     

We are waiting for our service to arrive. 

As soon as the van and the pick-up arrive we immediately headed to Mati, Davao Oriental.  

ATENEO DANCE TROUPE - EXTREME COLOURS
at the back the well known SLEEPING DINOSAUR
The Sleeping Dinosaur is one of the key attractions of the City.  It an island nestled along Pujada Bay that resembles like a submerged sleeping dinosaur. Its grandeur is visibly seen upon passing the 8 kilometer Badas Zigzag Road. It is greatly admired especially by those first timers. There are view decks made for tourists and travelers wanting to capture the gorgeousness of this Sleeping Beauty. In fact, it is the first welcoming attraction one will see upon entering the soil of the City.

We arrived there almost 6 in the evening.  The organizers meet us and 

confirm the essential details of our itinerary.  We had our dinner first 

at the canteen and after that they lead us to our room, we sleep at the 

Provincial Capitol Conference Room.  

It's not a lie to say that we were packed in there like sardines and still enjoy ourselves. 

And when we are finished unpacking our things we went to the GYM and have our dance rehearsals with the Bb. Tourism candidates.

with Sir Ricky  Enriquez as our Dance Choreographer and at the same time one of the organizer

Our dance rehearsal helped us to understand the empowerment and the 

familiarization of our dance step.  Some tension, but soon we settled into our 

rooms for a much needed sleep for tomorrow will be the day of the 

pageant. 

PAGEANT NIGHT.  We all wake up in the morning to have our early breakfast.  It is early for the show so Ate Annie and I went outside the capitol and have our pictorial.

Me and Ate Annie enjoying the scenery  of  Mati

Since it is too early for us to prepare for the show the organizer decided to tour us at Dahican Beach.

Once a quaint beach famous for its long stretch of pristine white sand and clean crystal clear azure waters facing the mighty Pacific Ocean, Dahican Beach is the City’s most famous tourist attraction. 

Today, Dahican Beach is widely known as theSkimboarding and Surfing Capital of the Davao Region. It has captivated a lot of beach lovers and has created an unfailing trademark as one of the beach destinations in the South. 

After the long day of having fun in the beach, we went to our room to have our bath and get ready for our opening number and for our final show. 

 This are some of the pictures we had during the pageant 

The show ended at exactly 1 in the morning.  We have great time, though all of us look exhausted we still want to go home that exact day because we all have our mid-term exams.

We all headed back in Davao City, 3 hours ride from Mati. 

Even if we only stayed for a short time in Mati City, I will always cherish the moments we spent there.  Nice place, nice view, and wonderful people.