Pasyal at Pahinga

  When my eldest child asked me if she could stay home during the weekend to do schoolwork, I took it as an opportunity to look for something to do that's suitable for our younger kids. Sometimes, the age gap among our kids makes choosing a destination for everyone to enjoy a bit tricky. Then my husband told me he wanted to bike from Manila to Nuvali and we could meet there. I looked for a kid-friendly hotel in nearby Tagaytay and found Hotel Kimberly! The hotel's kid-friendly facilities include both wet and dry playgrounds which Guijo (age 10) and Lauan (age 4) enjoyed. For older kids, an obstacle course with team-building-type tires, ropes, logs, and nets would offer more thrilling play. All equipment are clean and safe, and when we were there, work was being done on some facilities - in the shower area near the pool -  which is a good thing! It seemed to me like the hotel was well-maintained and the staff were attentive.  Lauan had some catching up to do with his playground

  I planned a side-trip to Taal so Guijo could better appreciate his lessons on Spanish colonial society. We went to see the old stone Basilica of St. Martin de Tours and the heritage houses or bahay-na-bato the town is known for.  But I don't think the architectural features of the town is the most memorable part of the trip for my son.  I think the most exciting moment of this trip is when my husband brought Guijo balisong shopping!   The balisong is a folding pocket knife, sometimes called a butterfly knife, fan knife, or Batangas knife. It can be a pocket utility knife (like the Swiss army knife) but its use as a self-defense weapon is probably the greater reason for its fame.  Taal is considered the "balisong capital" of the Philippines and there were many stores selling balisong. Not all shops are created equal. Some shops sell items made from elsewhere and offer an assortment of knives for various uses - not just folding knives; there are also other bladed weapons,

After our visit to Anilao to take the kids snorekeling, we decided to do a side trip to the heritage town of Taal. We awanted to show our kids a Spanish church, town plaza, bahay-na-bato, and cobblestone streets. My son Guijo’s Araling Panlipunan class had a module on how the Spanish colonial government formed towns, built churches, and introduced new architecture. I felt Guijo needed to see in real life what he was learning online! It’s one thing to read about a stone church and to actually see a massive and impressive one - St. Martin of Tours Basilica in Taal is as big as it gets! Supposedly the largest in the Philippines and in Asia! They did say “wow” when they saw the basilica atop a hill. As we drove into the center of Taal, the massive stone structure entered our field of vision and asserted its presence in a very awe-inspiring fashion. It was huge and imposing, causing one to look up, not only because of it's size, but also because of its commanding position on high ground

With Metro Manila on Alert Level 3, I had to prepare extra requirements to for our weekend trip to Anilao, Batangas. Confirmed booking, vaccination cards, negative Covid test results, health declaration forms, and valid ID's.  It was tedious, but I was motivated to take my kids on their first snorkeling adventure, and for that, I booked a stay in Camp Netanya in Anilao. Inspired by the architecture of Greek coastal villas, Camp Netanya stood out, a glowing white structure perched on a ridge that had a commanding view of Balayan Bay.  My husband and sister who joined me on this trip questioned my choice of resort at first - being divers, they preferred the classic and homey dive resorts which made use of vernacular design elements and materials.  Normally, I share their preference for regional tropical architecture and blending with the natural environment, but this being abnormal times, I wanted to feel like being transported elsewhere - being trapped in community quarantine condit

In the first 2 weeks of 2022, so many people got sick in Metro Manila that schools and businesses declared health breaks. Establishments were closed, roads were empty, lines at pharmacies were long and medicine for flu-like symptoms were in low supply. The fast-spreading Omicron variant combined with the social gatherings to celebrate New Year led to a rapid increase in Covid-19 cases and Manila was put on alert level 3. After a brief respite from the pandemic lockdown, our city was back to stressful quarantine conditions. I looked for something to do that involved a drive out of the city, for some quality respiration and inspiration - somewhere safe. After a week of being cooped indoors we took a ride up the mountains of Binangonan for a breather. We wanted to drive out of Manila and give ourselves a much-needed change of scenery, and the drive up winding mountain roads with glimpses of Laguna lake below was already refreshing, and when we reached our destination - we felt like it was

We couldn't tell from outside if the cafe was open. There were no other cars and the entire place was completely still. It was a Saturday afternoon but the recent surge of COVID cases in Metro Manila made this weekend quieter than most. We needed a breather in a secluded outdoor space away from the crowd. Who knew a tiny opening in narrow Sapang Buho Road, a busy urban side street in Antipolo, would lead to a spacious green oasis? The lush greens and tall trees, and the single lane road leading into the property, all conspire to cause one to shift gears, to go slower, at a more deliberate pace. Crescent Moon is a cafe and pottery studio, and a certain kind of palpable energy permeates the space - a vibe that is both creative and patient... it's the kind of energy I seek. Continuously productive, like a potter's wheel constantly spinning - stably, evenly - without the hurry. It's the same kind of energy that allows a gardener to care for plants, seeing and sensing wh