Pasyal at Pahinga

The gourmet comfort food we had at Apartment 1B made our overnight stay at The Henry in Laiya a beach getaway and a food trip rolled into one!  It's just a wonderful selling point - to have a real restaurant at a resort. A few weeks back, we were at Camp Netanya in Anilao, and my sister and I were thinking, what if the Santorini inspired architecture came with food from established Greek restaurants like Cyma or Cafe Mediterannean? The food in Camp Netanya was so-so. Ok, but not memorable. Which is not the case with Apartment 1B!  Our dining experience was a highlight of our stay! We started with cocktails at sunset. The staples did not disappoint. In preparing our Pina Colada and Margarita the bartender did not scrimp on ingredients.  And the shady garden setting, airy-loungy feel, and the stretch of beach and view of the sea right in front of us just made us feel driving out here was worth the trip.  Then our food orders arrived. We had the crispy squid rings and c...

A decade ago, my husband Oliver took me on a date to Apartment 1B at The Henry in Pasay, back when we still lived in the area. We loved the boutique hotel's design and the gourmet comfort food of Apt. 1B. Now that The Henry opened a resort in Laiya beach, we wanted to see it! The boutique resort opened its doors on December 18, 2021 and when we visited, only a few rooms on the ground floor were operational. The rooms in the 2nd and 3rd floors have yet to be completed. Like The Henry in Pasay, I also liked the design choices at this resort. Compact and efficiently laid out, the rooms are not too far from the pool, resto, and beach front!  I like how I can see my kids from the cafe area, whether they're swimming or playing on the sand. I can be sitting in the shade, sipping my drink, and lounging in comfort while they spend their energy, playing.  The Henry Taramindu derives its name from a huge Sampaloc tree and the welcome drink they served us was fresh tamarind juice which w...

  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 ...

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 quarant...