Holy week is a perfect time for prayers and of course bonding time with your families. In my case I spent it with my relatives from Tacloban. They love going to Sabin Resort Hotel since we were kids. It's such a nice place. Its ambiance, view... everything just breathtaking.

I didn't really had proper documentation of my trip because I didn't have a camera and I was just using my phone for photos and depended on my cousins for the photos. But just so you can get a glimpse of the beauty of the place, I searched from the Internet and I got these.

[CTO] - Looks wonderful, right?

[CTO] - Their lobby that looks exquisite with the chessboard-like flooring.

For our Sabin experience I'm going to share some photos with you courtesy of my cousins and some from myself... <3

Le cousins enjoying the afternoon playing PS3 because majority of them are boys. So, it was their way of having fun and we don't mind joining them.

Jump shot!

Two nurses assisting the injured cousin

Enjoying the sea breeze :)

I love the bar within the pool area. So relaxing!

Futile efforts of synchronized swimming

We saw a little bird by the pool

I was surfing the net while I was in the pool and kept on tweeting how great the place was and I just had to take pictures. My phone's not waterproof so my cousin kept on annoying me with water! But I couldn't care less. Haha XD

An almost complete photo of the young ones with our grandma! :D

Beautiful sunset! Taken with my xperia mini pro! I was a little bit too late because I didn't capture the redness/orangeness that engulfed the sky.

We took a quick road trip to eat barbecue somewhere downtown.

We ate at Padi's Grill before finally leaving the city.

This place is owned and managed by the family of Mr. Sabin Larrazabal. It stands on a flat two hectare terrain. With the help of architect Roy Perez and interior designer Doro Barandino they achieved what Mr. Larrazabal has conceptualized.

The hotel has 60 rooms, a grand ballroom (accommodates 4000-500 guests), a hall (accommodates 100-150 guests), and two conference rooms(accommodates 30-50 guests). A lot to choose from and perfect to held meetings, family gatherings, and special events.

The hotel's restaurant is named Mario's Restaurant. You dine with a refreshing and cozy feeling with a view of the beach while enjoying their sumptuous food. You can just sit back and relax while they entertain you with live music playing. If you want ti taste the finest wine in town you can go to the 3rd floor of the restaurant and situated there is Club Andone.

ROOM TYPE	RATES
SUPERIOR	Php 1,600.00
Facing Parking Lot A choice of 1 Queen Size Bed or Twin Bed Located at the Main Bldg. of the Hotel
DE LUXE	Php 1,850.00
Beach Front All rooms have Twin Bed Located at the Main Bldg and in the Row House
PREMIERE	Php 2,000.00
Beach Front All rooms have 1 Queen Size Bed Located at the Row House With Bath Tub and Shower
EXECUTIVE SUITE	Php 2,600.00
Beach Front 1 Queen Size Bed and 1 Single Bed w/ Sofa Located at the Second Level of the Main Bldg With Shower
PRESIDENTIAL SUITE	Php 3,800.00
Beach Front 1 King Size Bed Located at the Second Level of the Main Bldg. With Bathtub, Hot and Cold Shower, Personal Ref. Mini Bar, CR for the Guests and a Visitor's Area
EXTRA BED / PERSON	Php 400.00

Single or double occupancy

Free of charge for children below 12 years old staying with parents without extra bed

Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Check-out time is 12:00 noon

The rooms have the following features:
Airconditioning unit
Private toilet and shower with hot water
Color television with local/cable channels
Desk, dresser and cabinet
Telephone for local/NDD/IDD calls
Safety deposit box available at the Front desk

Other hotel services and amenities:
Business center
Gift shop
Internet cafe
Shuttle service to/from Ormoc City Port
Rooms in native designs

How to get there?

To get to Ormoc:

Ormoc City is located in the Western area of the Province of Leyte. The Province of Leyte is located in the Eastern Visayas area of the Philippines.

From MANILA

By Plane 

-Currently there are no direct flights to Ormoc City (the Asian Spirit flights have been temporari suspended). To get to Ormoc, one can take a flight (Air Airlines, Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines) to either Cebu or Tacloban. 

-If you take the flight to Cebu, you then take either a fast craft (a 2hr. ride) or the slow boat (5 hr. trip) to Ormoc City. 

-If you take the flight to Tacloban City, you have to take a two-hour car ride to Ormoc City.

By Boat

-There are some shipping companies that have direct trips from Manila to Ormoc City.

By Bus/Car

-One can drive to Ormoc City (a 24 hr road trip), or can take a bus. One the way, you'll pass through several provinces, and tourist attractions (like Mayon Volcano).

From CEBU 

By Boat

-One can either take the Supercat fast craft (Pier 4), which is a two-hour boat ride. There are three trips every day. One can also take the slow boat. The trips takes about 5 hours and there are some boats depart at 1 p.m. and another boat leaves at 10:00 p.m. (and arrives at about 4 a.m. the following day).

By Car

-One can drive to Ormoc, but will have to load your car on a barge either in Cebu City or Danao City).

From MINDANAO 

-One can either take the bus directly to Ormoc or drive to Ormoc City. If you decide to take a plane or boat, the nearest airport and seaport would be Cebu.

From OTHER COUNTRIES

-The most accessible entry point to the Philippines is by taking a flight with Cebu as your point of entry (Mactan Cebu International Airport), from there, you take a cab to the wharf (Pier 4) and take the Supercat fastcraft to Ormoc City.

To contact or to make reservations please call:

Phone within the Philippines

053-255-3801

053-255-3802

053-255-3803

To call from outside of the Philippines.

Your Countrys Exit Code+63-53-255-3801

Your Countrys Exit Code+63-53-255-3802

Your Countrys Exit Code+63-53-255-3803

exp. In the US you dial 011-63-53-255-3801

Information from their website: http://www.sabinresort.com/
Visit their site for more details and information :)

It was a fun & relaxing experience for me and my relatives. We spent most of our time either eating or swimming. My muscles were sore after because we played this crazy game of tag on water and you're not allowed to get out of the pool. So its either you swim or run (on slow mo) for your life. Energy drained! We also waited for sunrise only to find out that there was no proper view of it but expect that the sunset there will be jaw dropping.

I'll definitely go back if I had another chance! Until the next travel experience! :D

What does it take to be a topnotcher and how does it feel to be one? Let's experience a little bit close to reality with first hand information from one of the topnotcher from the roster of 8 coming from my Alma mater San Pedro College - Marie Angelique Go. She'd quiver by the sound of this. She prefers Marie or Pagel rather than Angelique.

She's more than just a pretty face. The brains, the wit, the beauty... everything rolled into this wonderful person. She was always the one who knew the answers to the questions. Effortless intellect I'd dare say. I remember way back college years everyone would say they didn't study for the test when in fact they did. But I've witnessed this woman - she really doesn't study but she still gets high scores. I wish I had that ability. I asked her before how does she do that. She quips that she just puts in mind to remember the important details and understand them... And what if everything's important? Then remember everything. Simple and logical.


This pretty girl over here just turned 22 and she's just starting on her future. She plans to take medicine this coming June. In the meantime she's still enjoying her free time before she gets all busy again. Quite a traveller! I think it's just a fair and a well deserved reward for herself. She has been acknowledged a lot of times for her excellence... Even during graduation, pinning, and the like. She never goes home empty handed. There's always something for her.

And of course this post wouldn't be interesting without the Q&A portion. I just hope I asked the things you wanted to know. So here it goes!

What were your preparations for the board exam?

I actually did not have any significant preparations. I just tried to understand concepts during review. I played "Hall of Fame" by The Script a few days before the board exam to pump me up. And I tried to stay calm.

How did it feel when you knew that you topped the board exam?

It felt surreal. Totally unbelievable, since I never expected it to happen. My classmate and friend Budi called me and gave the news while I was in Manila.

I remember we were texting each other and she wouldn't believe that the results were coming out that day. I told her that we were just waiting what her spot would be on the top 10. Almost all of us were certain that she was going to top it. It was totally expected from someone with undeniable intelligence. Did she expect it?  She didn't saw it coming since she was not as studious as the other people in their classroom according to her. "In the review center I'm known as the girl who's always late or absent." She told herself that if ever she pass that would be good and it would be a bonus if she tops it. "If bagsak, well, it's not the end of the world... May next time pa naman."

How did you celebrate?

It was kind of a double celebration since the results were released a day before my sister's wedding. We ate out and booked a flight back to Davao for a thanksgiving party.

This thanksgiving was necessary. A lot people were there and it was just plain fun! It truly was a celebration. Food, karaoke, great people and a lot more. It's nice to see a crowd just oh so happy for each other.

What is the most nerve wracking moment during the whole preparation until the actual board exams?

The most nerve wracking moment for me was when the proctor forgot to remind us of the remaining time and instead told us the time 15 minutes before the deadline. It really rattled me since I hadn't finished reading all the questions and I haven't shaded even 1 item.

Things like this really happen. During the board exam you may hear various complains about how the proctor  handles the room or how uncomfortable the testing room was. Stuff like that. So you really have to orient yourself with these things beforehand. It's important to attend the mock board too, just so you know how it feels like during the actual board exam.

How do you study? Any studying tips?

I don't really "study"... I try to understand the lessons as opposed to plain memorizing them; that way, no matter how they phrase a question, if you understand what they're talking about, you can answer. Also, don't expect to know all the answers. And don't beat yourself up when you don't know some things. Just be calm, but focused.

Does pressure affect her? Well in her case other people pressured her more than her family did which she found utterly amusing. Even the parents of her friends were telling her to top the board exam. On the other hand her parents just wanted her to pass it. "I think they realized that pressuring me to top wouldn't do my nerves any better."

What does it take to be a topnotcher?

I think being a top notcher means doing your best. Also, it doesn't hurt to be prepared. Try to learn as much as you can and make sure to prepare your things days or a week before the exams to lessen the anxiety.

What are the perks of being a top notcher?

The perks? Well, it's like you become an instant artista. People congratulate you and make you feel like you're a hero or something. We got to have special seats during oath taking, had our faces on newspapers and tarpaulins, and received awards and a certain distinction. But I think the best perks of attaining this status are being able to make your family proud of you and the opportunity to inspire other people to do their best too. This wasn't just MY success, MY moment of glory... This was a success for all of us - my family, friends, school. and peers, a testament to the glory and grace of God.

Featured in a Chinese newspaper

And here's a short and simple message from the topnotcher for the future board exam takers...

To all those who will take the board exam for the first time. I know that it is very anxiety-provoking for you guys; I've been through it. Just try to stay calm and focus on learning as much as you can. Know your strong and weak points; cultivate your strong points and work hard to overcome your weak points. Trust in God's will.

For the repeat takers, if at first you did not pass, I think you will start to doubt your capabilities... But I tell you, you are not, and will never be, a failure. Just do your best. Keep learning, keep improving. There is no such thing as failure, only delayed success. Don't take it too hard when you don't pass. There is always a next time. It is not the end of the world. Keep believing in yourself and trust in God's plan for you.

Well? What more can I say? Take it from her ;)

Until the next feature!

Jose Karlo's Coffee Shop

Juan Luna Street, Tacloban City, Leyte

My cousins kept telling me, "Tara JK kita!" which translates to "Tara JK tayo." By that time I
 really didn't know what they were talking about. I just thought... wherever they wanted to go... I will go. Now that's a sense of adventure! :)

They planned and planned and never really got implemented... but one night when we were bored and undecided that line came up again... So we went to the talked about "JK." I already figured by that time that it was a coffee shop. Just like context clues, right? Haha. It was located near Sto. Nino church. I was so hyped up because its been like so long since I had coffee from a coffee shop. 

The ambiance was outstanding. I love everything about it. If you want to chill and enjoy the evening this is a place to be. There are a lot of corners, each with a different feel but not going out of their comfort concept. I love that it's all woody and dim. Not enough photos to support my review but trust me on this one. My cousin kept teasing that I took photos of everything so I semi-stopped but you can't totally stop a blogger.

 The coffee nothing really surprising but not bad. I'd pay for the place itself. A lot of people are raving about their cheesecakes but I didn't get to try one. So, you should try if you go for a visit. For a coffee shop? Thumbs up! :D

I had fun even though I was bullied by the evil cousins. Haha. What are cousins for anyway?

Check them out on Facebook: Jose Karlo's Coffee

In the meantime let me sip another cup of coffee... Let me tell you about this one next time! <3

Woke up on time, got dressed, and went to the airport with le mum. She accompanied me all the way to the pre-boarding area. It was my first time to travel alone! Glad I already crashed that one out of my bucket list. I can't really exactly describe how I felt that time it was a mixture of fear and excitement. I even forgot to take meds. Good thing I didn't throw up during the entire flight but I did feel a little bit nauseated.

I still needed to wait for a few hours before my next flight so I spent the vacant time trying to compensate with my nausea and I hardly ate anything. I was afraid it would stimulate my gag reflex. I was like "better gutom than sumuka." I hate that vomiting feeling. I just thought that I'd eat a lot when I arrive at Tacloban. And when I did... a bunch of kids were waiting for me. All the young ones from our family on that side of the road were there. They were accompanied by my aunt and uncle. It was the cutest thing! Haha. Made me smile. They were singing songs of praise while we were driving back home.

Where exactly is home? I'm gonna share to you a glimpse of my 2 weeks of home in Tacloban where almost all of my cousins grew up doing evil kid stuff and so have I but I only contributed a little since I live far away from this place. 

What's a home without food? In my entire stay I gained a lot of weight because the food here is just amazing. Looks like everyone knows how to cook and believe me when I say I get so excited to eat everytime that I forget to take pictures of mouthwatering dishes. I only have a few, forgive me for this.

Mallows coated with white chocolate and topped with sprinkles

Morcon

But the eating doesn't stop here. Even when we're out and sleeping over another cousin's house there's still a lot of food to share! I'm delighted that my cousins and I share the love for food. It's a mutual feeling.

My cousins made mango float with cheese and my taste buds still crave for more. They also love gummy bears, who doesn't? I for one! I'm so weird. I don't like gummy bears that much.

Breakfast with hotdogs, eggs, and bacon - that's heavenly. We opted for this photo to caption "Wish you were here (insert absentee cousins)." Haha. It's a trend caption for almost all our photos when we're having so much fun.

I was in for a treat everytime someone thinks of eating out for dinner. I can't enumerate all the food I tried there. It's just too sinful. This shot below was at Sunzibar - a Mexican restaurant. Their rum ribs and quesadillas are on top of my list. Must try! :)

And if I'm not out eating I mostly spend the time with my cousins doing whatnot. There was this one time that we tricked our poor little cousin into watching a horror movie while he was thinking that we were going to watch Oz The Great & Powerful. He was covering his eyes the whole time. Poor little kid!

I also went to Sto. Niño Church a couple of times for regular Sunday mass and for retreats with cousins. This also happens to be the same church where my parents got married but it has a new facade now so it's not the same when compared to their wedding photos.

2 weeks. Now that's a well deserved vacation. After almost 10 or 11 years since my last visit I most certainly had a blast! Although I didn't get to visit some other tourist spots it's okay at least I still have something to look forward to for my next visit. I wonder when though. Hopefully not in another decade. I think that's a summary of how I spent my vacation there. Other significant events will be detailed on a separate post! :) Thanks for taking time to visit and read my blog. Much love!