It was two in the afternoon and the sea breeze was lulling me to sleep. I was sitting on the veranda of our suite in Rebak Island, watching the waves softly hit the shore, birds fluttering and flying across the clear sky. I gazed through the glass door of the suite and noticed that our son was fast asleep. I then gestured to the hubby to join me for an afternoon coffee. It was one of those rare moments when all I could think about was to be present at the moment. Langkawi was our second stop on our 35-day backpacking trip around Malaysia, Singapore, and a couple of islands in the Philippines ..read more

It was ten in the morning and a few of my students were shouting in rage and crying uncontrollably, while a few were quietly protesting. All of the 200 students were so consumed in expressing their disbelief at what just happened. I stood there as I shared their grief with them, but also admiring how these kids weren’t afraid to show their true feelings anywhere, anytime—a stark contrast to my childhood memories of equating “strength” and “resilience” to not crying in public. February is National Arts Month and every year, our department hosts several activities in our school to celebrate it ..read more

Friday the 13th. Unlucky. Eight grader. Start of the teen years. 13 playing cards in each suit. 13 diners at the Last Supper. Thirteen. Labing-tatlo. Trese. Today marks my thirteenth year of blogging and although I may not be as diligent as before I am still keeping this little space of mine in the blogosphere. ‘Coz it keeps me sane. ‘Coz I want to write. ‘Coz I can. Just because. It was fourteen years ago when I planned a D-I-Y trip to Cebu and Bohol with some friends. It made me realize that I can do a backpacking trip with my frugal means. And it made me happy. A few months later, I dared ..read more

It was seven in the evening when we went out to the beach. It was our first day in Langkawi and we're about to witness the famous sunset at Pantai Cenang. There were so many things going on and our son, Akira, gravitated to what seemed to be a bubble factory. Apparently, there were bubble makers for rent where you pay a rental fee for bubble-blowing stuff. We watched him pop other kids’ bubbles and he’s having so much fun, for free. It’s my third time visiting the island of Langkawi in Malaysia and none of my three trips are the same. The first time, Christian and I stayed in rather farther ..read more

Exploring Europe, with its diverse landscapes and rich cultural tapestry, calls for a reliable and versatile mode of transportation. Renting a car provides the freedom to traverse city streets, coastal roads, and everything in between. The demand for cheap car rental in Europe has led to a plethora of options, catering to various needs and preferences. From compact cars ideal for narrow city lanes to comfortable SUVs for long coastal drives, the choices are abundant. This is particularly evident in European car rentals in Italy, where the blend of urban exploration and scenic countryside driv ..read more

We were halfway through our visit to the Underwater World Langkawi when our son shrieked out of excitement. He asked me to come to him fast ‘coz there’s something interesting. He then showed me the penguin that seemed to be playing with Zeb Zeb (his White Tiger plush toy) and following it anywhere he placed it. He was giggling and so happy that he uttered, “This is the best day ever, Nanay!” It was our very first day in Langkawi when we decided to go to Underwater World Langkawi while we waited for our check-in time at Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang. We availed of our discounted Underwater W ..read more

We were halfway through our visit to the Underwater World Langkawi when our son shrieked out of excitement. He asked me to come to him fast ‘coz there’s something interesting. He then showed me the penguin that seemed to be playing with Zeb Zeb (his White Tiger plush toy) and following it anywhere he placed it. He was giggling and so happy that he uttered, “This is the best day ever, Nanay!” It was our very first day in Langkawi when we decided to go to Underwater World Langkawi while we waited for our check-in time at Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang. We availed of our discounted Underwater W ..read more

Hello, fellow language learners! I’ve been hopping around different language apps for a while, trying to find one that really clicks. That’s when I came across Jumpspeak. It’s an AI-powered app that promises to get you speaking a new language from the get-go. I chose Spanish for my trial run, and here’s an honest look at my experience with it.   Speaking from Day One: A Bit Intimidating but Fun The idea of speaking Spanish right from the start sounded intimidating, but it was also exciting. Jumpspeak plunges you into actual conversations instead of just memorizing grammar rules. It wa ..read more

Nestled in the heart of the Cordillera region of the Philippines, the Banaue and Sagada provinces present an awe-inspiring blend of cultural richness and natural wonder. These destinations have emerged as jewels for adventurers and culture enthusiasts alike. Here we explore the top insider picks for an unforgettable Banaue Sagada tour package adventure, ensuring you soak up every bit of the mesmerizing experience that this region has to offer. TOP PICS FOR BANAUE SAGADA TOUR PACKAGE ADVENTURE TABLE OF CONTENTS ~ WHAT’S INSIDE? The Breathtaking Banaue Rice Terraces Tappiyah Falls: A Hidde ..read more

It was seven in the morning and my two boys looked like they would be sleeping for the next couple of hours. I got up and went to where the coffee machine was and popped in a capsule. The sound of dripping coffee in the cup was relaxing and its aroma was totally invigorating. I parted the heavy drapes, pushed aside the glass doors, and sat on our private terrace. It was our second day at Mercure Langkawi Pantai Cenang and we're definitely loving our private terrace from our Privilege Room. Langkawi was the second leg of our backpacking trip for this year. We traveled for 36 days around Malay ..read more