Hello, 2015!

Time flies so fast, amazing 2014 is over, but a beginning of another awesome 2015 has come. Last year has been a heck of a roller coaster ride. Too many ups and downs but it was indeed a life challenging year. I met so many people, some were a blessing while others are a lesson, but whatever they served for me I am grateful for each and everyone for I have lots of memories stored in me and each made a strong impact that changed me to the person I am now. 2014 has been an eye opener for a lot of things and this 2015, we're given another opportunity to start off with a bang, live up to our goals and continue the blessing that 2014 gave. So I am wishing everyone a Happy Happy New Year! and may we all be blessed a year full of love, happiness, success and prosperity. I'm so ready and excited for what 2015 has to offer!

My hopes are high for 2015, and again Happy New Year, everyone!😃

Tugob Festival 2012: Street Dance and Final Showdown

It was a celebration of thanksgiving. Lively festival music reverberated in the air of Ormoc City on Oct. 20, as the city celebrated its 65th Charter Day and 3rd Tugob Festival.

Dressed in vivid costumes, the different school contingents stomped their feet on the ground, raised their arms, slapped their thighs, clapped their hands and shouted in unison as they thanked the Lord for a bountiful harvest and for give the city an range of natural resources.

Twelve contingents participated in the festival. Each of them was named after the resources that the city is bountiful most: steam, coconut, sand and gravel, flower, rice, livestock, water, pineapple, root crops, vegetables, fish and sugarcane.

The street dance competition started morning right after the parade. Then around 1 p.m., the Tugob dance showdown started at the Ormoc City Superdome, the dome was fully packed with audience.

In the street dancing, each contingent was given at most five minutes to present in a pre-designated area along the major streets of the city. During the final dance showdown, each contingent was given 6 to 10 minutes to present their number. Each participating contingent showed through a dance the livelihood that the food and natural resources have given the people, giving more emphasis on their assigned resources.

Wearing a fish and other marine life designed costumes, the Fish contingent, composed of students from the Western Leyte College, bagged the Best in Costume prize of P20,000 and the Best in Street Dancing Award, winning another P20,000.

The Sugarcane contingent, composed of students of the Eastern Visayas State University - Ormoc City Campus, bagged the grand prize for three consecutive years in the dance showdown competition. They received P160,000. Second placer in the dance showdown was the Vegetables contingent, composed of students from the Sto. Niño College which won a prize of P150,000 and third placer was the Fish contingent which won a prize of P140,00.

The Best in Choreography award was also given to EVSU (10K), SNC (9K) and WLC (8K) respectively.

Miss Tugob Festival Queen 2012

Twelve lovely ladies from different schools in Ormoc City are vying for the title of Miss Tugob Festival Queen 2012 last October 17 at Ormoc City Superdome. Pretty lass from Western Leyte College of Ormoc, Inc. coveted the crown for two consecutive years. Princess Diane Mercado represents the Fish contingent bested among the 12 candidates as she wowed the crowd in the rhythm of festival beat with her colorful and humongous festival costume and amusing props along with her back-up dancers. She also won the Best in Production Number, Best in Production Presentation, Miss Photogenic and Miss Smart Communications Executive Choice awards.

Kathleen Sofia Dy represents Sand and Gravel contingent of STI College place second and won Best in Solo Performance. Aileen Flores represents Sugarcane of Eastern Visayas State University place third. Aura Shaznay Tumulak represents Livestock of New Ormoc City National High School and Ormoc City Central School won the Best in Festival Costume and Smart Communications Texter’s Choice Award.

Summer Is More Fun In The Philippines

Quintessence of summer will finally bid goodbye any day from now, so before it will end I make it sure that I'll be having some fun; bath and play under the heat of the sun.

Summer is indeed more fun in the Philippines especially that we're profuse in beautiful natures where you can wind down, take adventures and wander around.

I've just had the most awesome island vacation ever and it happened in Canigao Island. See post here. The island is awesome! You guys should find time to go there if you haven’t yet.

My other summer adventures takes place in Sabin Resort Hotel on 20th of May, during our company's summer outing. I really had a good time spending summer time with them. Lots of gifts were given, delicious foods and superb fun and games.

See photos and videos below.

Canigao Island Bust Out!

Holy Week is the time when we’re supposedly listening to Homilies and Lenten reflections (which I always follow and never forgotten), but somehow I see it as an opportunity to have a vacation from work. For the first time, I spent my Holy Week vacation away from our house. I decided to spend it on somewhere I can relax and at the same time to enjoy!

On Good Friday and Black Saturday, I was far away from our house; I’ve spend it with my friends at Canigao Island.

Canigao Island is a little island situated in Matalom, Leyte. It is famous for its great beach and beautiful view, and of course the crystal clear water and white sand bar. It’s a great place for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking and, yes, camping! The island is pretty a great deal! It's an inexpensive weekend get away for everyone!

How to get Canigao Island if you're from Ormoc City? You have to take 2 hours of travel by van which travels daily down to Maasin City. You have to drop off at Brgy. Itom in Matalom, Leyte instead of going direct to Maasin City (better ask the drivers because they know where you to drop). You're now in the port, you’ll have to take a ride in a pump boats or motorized banca to finally bring you to the island. Fare is Php45 which good for a round trip fare and travel time will only take 15-20 minutes. A Php15 entrance fee will be collected as you get their. Different amenities are  to be offer such as nipa huts for Php400 per day with an additional Php200 charge if you plan to stay overnight, and a tent from Php200-300. The island has a little market which sells rice, canned goods, drinks, fresh fish. shells etc.

Some people call Canigao Island the other Boracay but Canigao gets more of a local crowd. A walk around the entire island takes about 30 minutes. Let me show you what’s in Canigao Island.