CRUISIN'

Despite the onslaught of a really bad case of rhinitis, I agreed to run an errand for my mil just so I could get of the house. The mission: to develop pictures from their river cruises in Venice, a side trip during their Dubai trip last year.

Their pictures were spectacular! This particular shot stood out...
No, not because of the familiar faces in the photo, but because of the hunk of a boatman in the background. Wahaha!

How I wish that one day, Haligi and I can go cruising again. Of particular interest are those river cruises showcased at eWaterways.com, which contains exciting tours to every imaginable destination. Antarctica, Australia , Canada, Chile, Croatia, Egypt, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Galapagos Islands, Germany, Greece, Hungary and the United States are just some of the top destinations of these river cruises. What's more, the eWaterways packages boasts of an interesting lineup of casual to elegant ships to suit every cruiser's dream.

I'm the one to talk huh? With my incredible fear of water! Now if only I could outgrow my fear of water, then cruising would definitely be more worthwhile for me.

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

SINGAPORE

We envy our friends B and A, who are off to Singapore for the weekend to meet up with our other friends, P and D. Both B and P hail from Virac, Bicol and the Singapore trip would be a reunion of sorts. I sent a little surprise for P, who celebrated her birthday last June. I miss her terribly!

B and A are officemates of Haligi, and with the help of a payday advance, Cebu Pacific's Zero Fare promo, some sense of adventure, they are off! This is their 3rd out of town trip, by the way. Ohhh, Haligi and I miss the joys of being single! That's not to say that we would rather trade places with them. We are perfectly happy where we are now. :)

It has been 5 years since our last trip to Singapore where we took the Star Cruise to Thailand and Malaysia, and we miss the country like anything. Clean streets, interesting sights and sounds and great shopping--what's not to miss? Hopefully, we will be back, perhaps with Haligi (and a little Haligilet?) in tow.

Dreams are for free.

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

STUCK IN A JAM?

Why whine about the traffic, if some people have to ride this to school...EKS-OH-EKS-OH

ENTERTAINING!!!

Spotted in Lucena. Parang may kulang...EKS-OH-EKS-OH

TRAVELLING COUCH POTATO

We arrived in Lucena after a four-hour drive from Manila. We will be staying at the Queen Margarette Hotel, one of the premiere establishments located at the heart of Quezon. The hotel boasts of over 60 well-appointed rooms, a grand ballroom, a pool and other amenities that would ensure a comfortable and leisurely stay in Lucena.

Although I am not really that fussy when it comes to hotel accommodations, I am very particular about room entertainment. Lest you be misled, I am actually referring to cable television. It doesn't matter if the bed's small or that there aren't any water heaters. I'd be happy too if the room's small, or the pillows aren't made of goosefeathers. I'd be my content self as long as I have my daily TV fix.

It was a relief to know that the Queen Margarette Hotel, the hotel we are staying at here in Lucena City, not only had cable subscription, but actually had its own cable dish. This is similar to that of the US-based service, DIRECTV. DIRECTV is a satellite service which offers a wide array of programming choices, available in either basic or platinum packages. Resolution is of superior quality--ranging from standard to advanced high-definition broadcasting. Truly an exceptional viewing experience, just as what I had experienced at this hotel!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

ROMAN HOLIDAY

I just endured the most depressing acting vehicle ever (a more in-depth review in another post). Seriously, even my dad's old B movies had way better acting than what I just saw tonight. Formula plot+stereotypical characters+awful acting=MOVIEGOER'S NIGHTMARE.

The only consolation, aside from KC's FABULOUSSS bag collection, was the fact that parts of the movie were set against the picturesque Santorini, reminding me, yet again, of my dream European vacation. Greece is among my dream destinations, especially after hearing nothing but raves from my ils after their recent Mediteranean Cruise.

Santorino joins the ranks of France and Italy, as the countries I'd like to visit someday. And if and when I do plan our trip to Italy, I would be sure to check out the hotels in Rome listed at Romaclick.com. The site boasts of an extensive listing of accommodations across the country, ranging from villas, to inns, to hotels, that are all envisioned to meet the varying tastes and standards of travelers. The site likewise boasts of interesting insights into historical spots in Rome, such as the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, Trastevere, St Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican.

There are no accidents indeed. I may have felt that I wasted two hours of my life tonight on some substandard movie, but at least, I was reminded again of bigger and better things that may lie ahead.

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

VIVA VIGAN!

My Vigan report will have to be on an installment basis as I am really swamped with work (but maver, why are you still plurking?!?!). Needless to say, my Vigan trip was exhausting YET exciting. Crisologo Street was so charming...And it was a great venue for shopping too--from blankets, rugs, curtains, to magnets, tea light candles, and all the abubuts you can think of.

Under different circumstances, I would definitely love to go back to that northern province boasting of so much history and character (and probably ghosts too, hehehe!) .

See you again Vigan, sans deadlines, sans work, sans Lawin!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

MEA CULPA

Sorry for being terribly amiss in doing blog updates. This week has been terribly toxic. And if there is a word that means MORE TOXIC than toxic, then that's how my week is turning out to be.

In place of a regular entry, I'm leaving you with some photos of the welcome surprises that I enjoyed in Vigan... More anecdotes (and more photos) next time...

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

WILL BE GONE; IN VIGAN

I'm all packed for my trip tomorrow. We leave at midnight for a two-day shoot at the interesting Northern province of Vigan.

My friends have been telling me to get a load of antiques and outdoor furniture which line the famous cobblestone streets of Vigan.

Now if the Vigan outdoor wood furniture would look anywhere near those shown at spacify.com, then I would definitely consider purchasing a few pieces. Spacify's furniture, particularly the outdoor benches would definitely be welcome additions to my my in-laws' garden in Batangas. Please excuse Haligilet's demeanor...
Bon voyage to me!

EKS-Oh-EKS-OH

BACK FROM BATANGAS

Our visit to Batangas was short but sweet. Most interesting of all was the fact that our visit was punctuated by a near-brush with Lawin, the country's latest typhoon.

Do you know that a land trip to Batangas now costs US$35 per one-way trip? That's close to P3,000.00 pero roundtrip. That's sans toll fees and pasalubong costs pa. Himatay!

A bit of research over at RankNoodle.com revealed interesting insights on the the history of fuel pricing--http://www.ranknoodle.com/article/timeline-of-gas-prices. I must say the statistics were indeed telling of rougher times ahead.

The current state of fuel affairs in this country has indeed made a dent on our finances and has, sadly, affected our family relations as well. Our visits to Haligi's hometown have dwindled significantly over the past months. I dread the day that visits will ultimately be nil if the current gas situation fails to improve.

Sad. Sad. Sad.

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

TOXIC

Today was toxic.

Check out my task list:

Prepare and release daily newsletter - DONE
Finalize press release for ******* ***** - DONE
Hire photographers for twin events tomorrow - DONE
Have mock SIMs printed - DONE
Have AVP contract reviewed by Legal - DONE
Finalize AVP talent and venue list - DONE
Conduct screen test for talents - DONE
Reserve transpo and accommodations for next week's shoot - DONE
Secure cash advance - DONE
Run bank errands - DONE
Cook - DONE
Dinner and unwinding with Haligi - DONE
Read and write with Haligilet - DONE
Blog. Blog. Blog - DONE

Windaaaaang ever.

While the coming week promises to be really, really jampacked with activities, I couldn't help but be excited. I will be traveling to Laoag, Vigan and Baguio all in a span of 48 hours to complete our corporate AVP--something that hasn't been done in a long time. This will also be my second video project for the year, the first one being the DBP project showcased in the PGMA HK trip during the first quarter of 2008.

At the helm of this project is the Ludritz team, who by the way, did that wacky birthday video for our boss. Ludritz offers services similar to Richter Studios, a Chicago video production outfit. Like Ludritz, Richter offers production services like video presentations, 2D graphics, 3D animations, text treatments, logo animations, stylized effects, animation and many more. I do hope our finished products measures up to the standards set by Richter Studios!

Byahe na naman!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

SPAIN, AGAIN

Amidst piles of work, our dreams of Spain continue...

We were elated when we came across a site on the stunning villas in Orba and Balsicas holiday apartments. We couldn't believe our luck as we unconvered breathtaking views and accommodatons, link, after link, after link. I'm sure Haligi would be happy to know too that the site also had leads to cycling tours in South-East Spain, given his current (maybe, temporary) commitment to biking and running.

Dubbed as Holiday Rentals, the site showcases an interesting leads to majestic views and breath-taking photos of Spain's self-catering villas and apartments. We were keen that the accommodation set-up would work well with our travel plans as we usually enjoy taking everything by the day, with no expectations, no definite plans. In other words, BURARA. QUE BARBARIDAD! Hehehe!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

A PLANE TO SPAIN IN 2009

Last night, a few of my closest office buddies left for Vietnam aboard Cebu Pacific, and I must say, I was green with envy! After all, what better way to spend the extended weekend but with the company of family and friends, right? What's great about it all is the fact that the round trip tickets were a steal at a little over Php5,000.00!!! Piso Fare rocks, indeed!

I'm sure this trip will be a blast for them even if they are travelling on a budget. I've been hearing them plan their accommodations and itinerary for days. And while I really wanted to be with them, maverhood guilt just tugged at my heart. I just couldn't bear spending another weekend away from my family. And the ankle injury just reinforced the idea that the trip was not meant to be.

For 2009, the bar has been raised. Tired of Asian destinations, the travelling buddies now plan to raid Spain! Wowowee!!! As early as now, we are scouring the internet for cheap hotels and interesting sights and sounds of the country. We also came across an interesting site on Benidorm Hotels, which includes an in-depth discussion of comfortable AND affordable accommodations across Spain, including special rates and offers. The site also allows online reservations and bookings and includes other pertinent information such as area maps, communication services and so much more. Now the question is, will I be on that Spain-bound plane? We will see.

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

PARK 'N FLY

With my AVP shooting calendar now underway, Haligi and I are finalizing our travel logistics. You see, there just might be a slight chance that our travel skeds (both work-related) may coincide with each other. Huhuhu, poor Haligilet.

The tentative plan is this: Haligi travels down south for election-related activities. Maver flies up north a few days later. Sounds simple, ain't it? A major consideration however, will be our land transfer arrangements.

Usually, when Haligi or I are on an out of town assignment, it goes without saying that the Manila-based spouse brings and picks up the traveling spouse to/from the airport. It'll be totally different if and when we will both be out of town. Toughie! I know a cab ride to and from the airport may be the logical solution, but we are exploring possibilities.

What do you know, we discovered the Park 'N Fly service of NAIA, which is similar to Park Let--a logistical marketplace which allows you to rent parking spaces in London, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, and all other UK towns and cities. Through Park Let, UK-based individuals may avail of safe, secure, fully managed and insured letting services. Logistics problem, solved!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

DREAMING BRANSON

Now that the visas have been granted, our daydreaming sessions have shifted to high gear. Ever since Haligilet saw this picture of his Dada's... his appeals for a US holiday have become more frequent. But since we vowed that 2008 would be a year of savings (my secret bag fund is under immunity, hehehe!), a family trip to the theme parks of Branson Missouri would have to wait.

Why Branson Missouri, you might ask?

Well, the webiste really piqued our curioisity, especially since it showcased a wide array of world-class attractions like Silver Dollar City, the Branson Landing, live entertainment, shopping districts and so much more. We also fell in love with the impressive line-up of elegant hotels, comfortable inns and cozy cabins at bransongetaways.com, the online authority on anything Branson! :)

We hope we can make it to the world's live entertainment capital by 2009!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

WINDMILLS ON MY MIND

In a few weeks time, I will finally set my eyes on these...

Another trip. Another set of days away from Haligi and Haligilet. Huhuhu. Plus the rains have been at it since early this month. It's a good thing we've got a comprehensive travel insurance package. Otherwise, I would definitely think twice.

San naman ito? Work and play all in one go. Yipee!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

SAYA SA SARIAYA!

My Sariaya trip was one heck of a journey. It was indeed a feast for the senses, allowing me to experience the sights, sounds, tastes and culture of the East, all in one go. Great venue to strut those digital cameras, indeed! I slept for most part of the trip to Quezon, and was delighted when I laid my eyes on the magnificent Mt. Banahaw, a few hours and snores later...
Our purpose for this trip was to conduct a training module for "nanays", a term used for coop members who availed of entreneurship opportunities via our e-loading business. These nanays are also concurrent franchise holders of Hapinoy, a sari-sari store chain spearheaded by Micro Ventures, Inc. (MVI), and backed by microfinancing institutions (MFIs).
Upon approval of an MFI business loan, MVI provides an MFI nanay with a fully-merchandised Hapinoy outlet, seminars and training, and most of all, access to goods and services at wholesale prices, equipping nanays with improved income opportunities. Through Hapinoy, we dream of building a massive and unified landscape of sari-sari stores, backed by standardized principles and procedures, and operated by disciplined and empowered entepreneurs. We dream that someday, there will be no more poor.Aside from the opportunity of being part of such a meaningful intiative, Sariaya gave me lots of other reasons to smile.

Read more...

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

SAAN NAMAN ITRILS?

Maver's off to another escapade this weekend to what is recognized as the "Vigan of the East." Trabaho to, hindi personalan. :D Any wild guesses?

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

ACC, HERE I COME!

By now, you probably guessed that I'm off to Shang Mactan come September. I am uber excited!

But before I get carried away, there are a few things that I have to work on for this year's Asian Carrier Conference. Foremost on the list is to conceptualize our booth concept. Here, by the way, is how our booth looked like last year...

For this year, we want to veer away from the traditional booth display. We want ours to be both engaging and exciting. Of course, the exhibit would still use the standard truss support systems as well as banner stands. And as expected we will be showcasing our newest line of products and services. But we'd really like to think out of the box this time, as we aim to open more doors and expand new horizons. We want ours to be a medley of the new and the innovative, without necessarily sacrificing clarity and content.

Suggestions, anyone?

EKS-OH-EKS-OH

PARK 'N DRIVE

Speaking of ACC, as early as now, Haligi and I are making plans for a possible Cebu holiday. After all, the ACC falls on Haligilet's birthday month. The tentative plan is this: Maver travels to Cebu week of September 10th, while Haligi and Haligilet travel a few days later (weekend trip). A major consideration however, will be our land transfer arrangements.

Usually, when Haligi or I are on an out of town assignment, it goes without saying that the Manila-based spouse brings and picks up the traveling spouse to/from the airport. It'll be totally different if and when we do push through with our Cebu travel plans since no spouse will be left in Manila. At least no spouse that I know of. Hehehe!

What do you know, we discovered the Park 'N Drive service of NAIA, which is similar to Park Let--the garages for rent in the UK. Through Park Let, UK-based individuals may avail of fully managed and insured letting services. Cebu, here we come!

EKS-OH-EKS-OH