Summer Break Activities

We're inviting you, our friends, followers, readers and visitors of Island Travel, to our other blog HAPPY PARENTING JOURNEY by Papa Sez and Mama Sez to see what we've been up to lately.

Summer time is a great time for family activities. Mama Sez has lined up a full range of activities for our four kids this summer. Look at her table of planned summer activities and you'll see how busy the family would be in the next few weeks. She based her plans on her new hub "Parenting Tips on How to Choose Summer Activities for Kids" for a balanced summer break.

This is an open invitation to find out more about our parenting style, recipes and so much more about parenting issues in general. C'mon and tag along (or tweet & share to) your friends and family.

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Herb Republic: Fresh Food in a Garden Setting

This recent visit to Herb Republic Restaurant along the National Highway, Maahas, Los Banos, Laguna is actually our second.  The first was a dinner with entomologist friends on the same day we celebrated our baby's 1st birthday and christening with a gathering over lunch at Kamayan sa Palaisdaan, Bay, Laguna in March last year.  Mama Sez wrote a bit about our Valentine's Day lunch date that emphasized our yearning for healthy food on that day of the hearts.

Here are some more photos of Herb Republic at daytime.  Consistent with their "freshest food straight from the garden" theme, the restaurant is basically a homey garden with bamboos and lots of vegetation to cool you down at lunchtime.

An inner sanctuary/hang out spot has couches, low tables and a piano.  The artistic decor and soft music that went well with the sound of flowing water that feeds the small pond containing Koi fishes contributed to this hideout's cozy ambiance.  That time, we had the place all to ourselves.

Here's an excerpt from Mama Sez's blog post:

"This restaurant offers only organically grown vegetables and meat from naturally grown chicken and pig that they themselves produced. Dishes are prepared with their finest herbs. Even the drinks are healthy as they are prepared without sugar and sweetened only by the herb called “Stivia.” All food in the menu are fresh and healthy and therefore good for the heart. We ordered the Herb Republic Salad, Basil Pesto Pasta, Mint Buko Lychee Cooler and Mint Watermelon Cooler. Hot Lemon Grass Tea was served as welcome drink."

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Pook ni Mariang Makiling: Photos

Here are some photos of Pook ni Mariang Makiling resort in Los Banos, Laguna where we chose to commune with nature on Valentine's Day.

View of the facilities near the creek in Pook ni Mariang Makiling

View of the cottages from the swimming pool area

Lots of areas to see and stairs to climb

A perfect little cottage to relax in the sound of water flowing along the creek

Sights and sounds to behold in front of the perfect little cottage

Read our previous posts to learn about the fees and contact number as well as how to get to Pook ni Mariang Makiling nature resort.

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Pook ni Mariang Makiling: Rates, Charges and Contact Number

One of the many attractions in Laguna, Pook ni Mariang Makiling is a nature resort situated in Los Banos and is part of the Mt. Makiling National Park.

Yesterday, we published an alternate, more scenic route through the mountain instead of the usual route through the University of the Philippines Los Banos campus. Today, we'll provide information about the rates and charges so you'll have an idea on the budget to prepare for your next outing. The contact person & number is at the end of this post.

Pook ni Mariang Makiling is known for its Olympic-size swimming pool in a tropical forest environment. The resort entrance fee is only PhP 25, while the swimming fee is PhP 40. Children below two years of age is free. Swimming attire is swimming trunks or shorts for males, and shorts and sleeveless white shirts for females. Shorts with zipper and buttons are not allowed. Day swimming is from 8am to 5pm. Night swimming is by arrangement (contact person and number is at the end).

Table rental is PhP 300 for daytime occupancy, while a small pavilion that can accommodate 30 persons is PhP 500.

For those who prefer to stay overnight, rates for cottages ranged from PhP 200 per person for minimum requirements like bed, toilet & bath and electric fan to PhP 500 per person for a cottage with aircon. These figures are based on room sharing in a cottage with two or three bedrooms.

For instance, Lakambini cottage has 3 bedrooms with 4 beds each, 3 toilet and bathrooms and 3 electric fans. So it's capacity is 12 persons for PhP 2,400/day.

Their best cottage is Diosa that has 2 air-conditioned bedrooms with 3 beds each, 2 toilet & bathrooms, and an attic in one of the bedrooms. So Diosa can accommodate 6 persons at PhP 3000/day.

Note that these cottages are not at par with standards of more expensive private resorts. But the place is good for simple group (family or barkada) outings and nature trips.

There are charges for electricity consumption starting at PhP 100 per day depending on wattage. Other rentals: audio system/karaoke @ PhP 200/day, electric fan @ PhP 200/day, extra bedding @ PhP 150/set and excess headcount @ PhP 25/head for cottages. Corkage fee for beer and softdrink is PhP 50/case.

Please contact Rose @ (049) 536-3489 for reservation and for more details.

More photos to come in the next post.

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Pook ni Mariang Makiling: How to Get There

Pook ni Mariang Makiling is one of the many attractions of the town of Los Banos in Laguna and is part of the Mount Makiling National Park just like the National Arts Center (NAC), the Philippine High School for the Arts, and the Boy Scouts of the Philippines (BSP) National Jamboree Site.

The normal route for tourists, especially buses, to reach Pook ni Mariang Makiling is via the University of the Philippines Los Banos campus. However, this route would take you through the busy intersection of College, Laguna, where traffic going to Santa Cruz and San Pablo also passes.

If you are using a private vehicle (not a bus!), the alternative Jamboree route is recommended to avoid the College junction traffic. This more scenic route would take you up the mountain with dangerous turns and steep inclines so care must be taken at all times when using this route.

The critical turn for this alternate route to Pook ni Mariang Makiling is the PCARRD (Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development) road.  At present, the point where this road joins the National Highway has a big sign that notifies the public that buses are not allowed on this road (see point A in the map above and the photo below).

If you're coming from Manila, turn right when you spot this PCARRD junction, and proceed (PCARRD entrance is about 100 meters on your left). This is PCARRD-Jamboree Road and just follow it to reach the BSP Jamboree site, which is about two kilometers away. In a little more than a kilometer from the PCARRD turn, you will see the Magnetic Hill gate to your right (see point B in the map and the actual photo below).

At this point, you would be nearing the BSP Jamboree boundary and expect more dangerous curves and steep climbs and descent in the next kilometer or so. You will run into two forks after you enter the BSP Jamboree arch. In both cases, just choose to turn right instead of going straight. See points C and D in the map and the following photos.

After this last right turn, you can immediately spot the National Arts Center arch. Just go straight (instead of going to the gated uphill road to the right that leads to NAC). The next structure you would find is the (unmaintained) BSP swimming pool. Proceed farther until the final right turn to enter the Pook ni Mariang Makiling arch (see yellow star in the map above and the photo below).

Enjoy the scenery and the olympic-size swimming pool within the Pook ni Mariang Makiling compound.

Reminder: it is not advisable to use this alternate route during inclement weather and wet road conditions.

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It's Christmas at UPLB Part 2

Someone made a comment in the first post about the Belen, which is the centerpiece of the UPLB Christmas Park, as being weird. We figured it's because the figures were made entirely out of wood. We visited UPLB Baker Hall again today with the kids to take advantage of a Christmas Book Sale.  Then, we decided to take more photos of the Christmas Park.

Belen at the UPLB Christmas Park

Notice that the figures in the manger or belen are now clothed. Perhaps it doesn't look weird anymore. LOL

Here are more photos to enjoy:

The Manger at the UPLB Christmas Park

Giant Christmas Tree with Gingerbread houses to the right of the Belen

Cheers!

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Aero dancing at the UPLB Freedom Park

The UPLB Freedom Park has always been an attraction and a reason why people choose to live and raise a family in Los Banos, Laguna. Aside from the many sports and recreational activities one can do in its wide open space, dance aerobics is also held every Saturday morning and our family have been taking advantage of the opportunity to exercise along with many others in the community.  Mama Sez and I prefer this over the dance exercise video we follow at home because of the healthy and relaxing outdoor settings.

During the rainy season, aero dancing, which is led and organized by the University of the Philippines Los Banos (UPLB) Department of Human Kinetics, is held inside the historic Baker Hall.  This is one of the oldest buildings in campus and is a prominent structure at the periphery of the UPLB Freedom Park.  Although many still participate when it's done indoors, aero dancing in the open space of the Freedom Park is still preferred by many more in the community, including us.

The historic Baker Hall hosts the aerodance sessions either outside or inside

Yesterday was the first time that the aerodance session was again conducted outdoors after many weeks inside the Baker Hall because of rain.  Below are more photos of yesterday's aerodance session to show you how diverse the community is.  Who knows, you might be inspired to join us every Saturday at 6 AM for an hour of easy to follow aero dancing for fun and fitness.

Watch a video we posted at Parenting Journey and feel the great vibes.

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It's Banamos Festival here in Los Banos

The 2010 Banamos Festival of Los Banos, Laguna is ongoing from today, 17th of September, until Sunday, the 19th.  It's a great time to visit and know more about Los Banos, the Special Nature and Science City in Laguna.

Main activities of the first day (September 17) are centered near the Los Banos Municipal Hall in the Paciano Rizal Park where there's Palarong Pinoy in the morning and Talent Search in the evening. Second day (September 18) main activities are centered at the UPLB Freedom Park where a civic parade would end.  The second night will be highlighted by the Search for Miss Los Banos back at Paciano Rizal Park.

Click here to learn more.

For those passing through Los Banos towards other towns in Laguna, expect heavier than usual traffic on these days.

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Typhoon Basyang Reminded Us about the Downside of Living in Laguna

13 July 2010, Los Banos, Laguna, 11:00pm - The winds blew so hard that Mama Sez decided to call it a night. She was supposed to do some work on the computer but got scared of the strong winds. As she dived under the blanket, I teased her that she's not used to typhoons anymore. Laguna was declared to be under typhoon signal no. 2 then.

It was the kids' first typhoon experience and they were excited to feel and witness the strong winds and rains that they only see on television or heard from our stories. They were anticipating it as classes were already suspended that afternoon, though winds and rains did not really pick up that much. But we decided not to wake them up in their deep sleep. They'll get another chance we thought.

I was awaken when the lights went out some time after midnight. I just checked if my cell phone was within reach so I could use it to navigate the house if I need to get up later. The night went uneventful for the children, while Mama Sez and I were awaken every now and then to check on them. The howling sound of the wind and the brownout did not bother them. It was already around 5am, the usual time to get up, when Rica and Nadine noticed that electricity was out.

The kids cheerfully got out of bed when there was already some light outside. They anxiously checked the surroundings and found our favorite Langka (jackfruit) tree fallen. It was a favorite because its full crown have been giving us some respite from the sun when we are outside since we moved to this new location. Now it's gone and the front yard felt so bare (our neighbor immediately got a mango tree seedling to take its place that afternoon; it got blown away just a few hours later, but it's now back in its place).

Since we did not allow them to go further than the gate, the kids content themselves with news and stories from Tita Tin and other visitors about roofs flying off and the commotion caused by families that had to move to another place as water entered their houses. The excitement ran out as the day progressed without electricity. They played among themselves and with neighbors but were totally bored by late afternoon.

The night without electricity was terribly annoying especially for parents with very young children like us. It is during those times that one gets to appreciate the modern conveniences. We have become so dependent on electricity.

The hassles we experienced were not much compared to those who lost lives and properties to Typhoon Basyang. Death toll is still rising as the typhoon (Conson is the international name) also devastated mainland Asia.

Having lived away from Laguna for more than six years, we have forgotten about the terrible things that can happen during the typhoon months here in Luzon. Typhoon Basyang reminded us how blessed people in Davao are to be free from the risks to life and property that typhoons bring.

It was the thought that the kids are safe and the soothing sound of the wind chimes in front of the house that probably helped calm us down all that time.  As I write this post, the sun is out, the leaves are swaying and the wind chimes are playing. Life is wonderful no matter what and I am thankful for that.

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An Extended Vacation

It sure feels like it! What if you’re still in a place you only intended to visit and spend time during summer but ended up staying longer? What if you’re housed next to a hotspring resort, near the lake and with a view to the sunset across Laguna de Bay?

Well, it’s happening to us…we’re on an extended vacation, sort-of. We’ve decided to stay longer in the town where we originally started our family. Staying longer means renting a place for the family, and we got a good one near our relatives, which is a main requirement for us.

It was not that difficult a decision to move to a new place, especially when the kids were most excited when they were asked about it and are actually happiest when their Tita Tin, Tito Jay and Tito Cris are around. Of course we had to do the most difficult part, i.e. facilitating the transfer, including the transfer to a new Montessori school.

Well, school has started and so far so good.

While the hassles of getting used to a new place and some degree of longing for the comfort of a home we’ve gotten used to for years also get to us at times, we relish on the thought of new possibilities on the horizon, which is enough to get us through.

When one feels like having an extended vacation, the excitement never runs out. But things should settle down somehow and we’re getting there. And the signs tell us that a new season has begun, but then again the adventure continues…

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