Backpacking to Tanay Rizal – 12/29/2013

December was my travel month. 

I went to HongKong for a business Trip, Tanay Rizal for our Christmas Outing, North-bound for our annual family Trip and lastly, back to Rizal for a day’s adventure with friends.

I was busy the entire December, but since I want to narrate and share each and every travel adventure I've been to, I'll be posting them here anyway. I'll start with the most recent. :)

It's an unplanned day tour at Rizal with officemates, Den and Nheri. We were supposed to go to Laguna but since we've been spending a LOT and accommodations will cost much, we decided to go somewhere near.

We decided to have an adventure in Rizal.

Meeting time was 6:30am at Ligaya, Pasig. (I was on time, they were just an hour and a half early). I arrived there almost at sunrise.

Our first stop was the Touch of Glory Prayer Mountain. We took 2 jeeps to Cogeo, then Paenaan. Fare was arounf P20. Entrance fee at the Prayer mountain was P70. Here you can do church service, relfect and pray at the prayer cells, prayer huts, or in the open areas surrounded by plants and trees. It's also a retreat place, they have separate dormitories for girls and boys.

It was a very relaxing and tranquil place for alone time, prayer and simply enjoying nature.

But we only stayed there from 7:30-9:00 because we have a lot to accomplish on our list.

Next, we had a roller coaster ride going to Tanay Rizal. But after 3-4 rides of jeeps and tricycles and lots of asking, we managed to reach Tanay Plaza. For people's information, there are buses in EDSA Shaw going straight to Tanay Rizal.
In the Tanay Plaza, we rented a tricycle to Daranak. Fare was P350 roundtrip for the three of us. 

We stopped over at a bridge in Tanay and manong driver even took our photo. 

The tricycle driver (who seems to be our tour guide as well) suggested that we visit the Calinawan Cave, which was just along the way going to Daranak Falls.

Just some facts : Calinawan Cave was named as such because it used to be a meeting place for soldiers during the World War. Many arguments and pacts have been settled and clarified in this cave, that's why it's called Calinawan. :)). Plus, a "Column" is when a stalactite above and stalagmite below meets to form a post.
Entrance fee to the cave is P20/ head. Tour guide service is P100 + tip.

Afterwards, we climbed a grotto with the 14 stations of the cross (but I didn't have a picture) and trekked until we reach our last destination for the day : the Daranak Falls! 

Entrance fee was only P30 for adults. Cottages and tables are also affordable at P300 and P150 respectively.

Another attraction famous in Daranak was the balanced stones. We ourselves tried to pile stacks for the experience.

The falls is open from 8am-5pm daily and not allowed for overnight stays. There's no corkage in food so bring as many as you want. Alcohol is banned inside though.

After the swim till afternoon, we went back to Tanay / Plaza and there were already shuttles and buses back to EDSA Shaw. Bus tickets cost P60-P70.

So, if you want a cheap day adventure near the city, Tanay is a good place for you and friends!

Indeed, it was a tiring day but definitely a one of a kind and sulit trip with the Crazy Eggs! 

<3 Shaine

My Thank You's for 2013 -12/31/2013

It's the end of the year again. So ill be listing my top 13 highlights for the year. 13 lang since 2013 naman ngayon. :)

To start off my list :
#13. Community & social works :)
Some of the best things to do is to reach out to our neighbors in need
Tahanan ng Pagmamahal (Orphanage for girls) - 1/11/2013
School Supplies Sharing for Dumagats in Calawis, Antipolo - 6/3/2013
Outreach with Victory Ortigas - 8/4/2013
Gawad Kalinga Build - 8/26/2013
GK Relief Operations at DAR -11/16 & 23/2013

#12. Videoke Nights 
Hey Girls Reunion at my place - 3/17/2013
Red Box with office friends/ Pantals - 7/30/2013

#11. Night Outs & Dinner Dates with Family and Friends 
This was the ultimate dining year. Ate at a lot of different restaurants with friends, officemates, and family. Some of the memorable ones are :
It takes a Man and a Woman with Lyssa and Daddy - 4/12/2013
My Birthday at Cafe Juanita - 9/8/2013
Shopping Date with Czari - 12/3/2013

Then my top 10 are mostly my travel trips (except one).

#10. Nagsasa Cove- 5/11-12/2013

9. Rizal Adventure with Den and Nheri - 12/29/2013

8. Taal Lake Trekking -4/13-14/2013

7. Enchanted Kingdom & Nuvali - 11/13/2013

6. Mama's 80th Birthday - 11/2/2013

5. HongKong Trip - 12/4-7/2013

4. Farm at San Mateo Highlands 4/6-7/2013

3. Norte Trip - 12/22-26/2013

2. Treetop Adventure Treat - 2/2-3/2013

1. MICECON Davao - 3/6-9/2013


Sinong nagsabi na malas ang 2013?! Sa dami ng nangyari, there's still MORE great things that happened.

Goodbye and thank you, 2013! and hello 2014! :)

Love, me. :)

#micecon2013 Davao

04.6-9-13

#micecon2013
This was a trending hashtag for the Philippine tourism industry last March 2013. I know this post is long overdue but I really want to blog about this and share my MICECON experience. :)

M.I.C.E. stands for Meetings, Incentive Travel, Conventions/ Conferences, and Exhibitions/ Events. MICECON is an annual convention organized the Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board that convenes all local and private organizations to learn from local and international speakers, discuss issues about the industry, network with co-delegates, and of course, experience FUN and world-class hospitality in the Philippines.

This year, the host is DAVAO CITY.

So, selected members of our team flew down south to witness and experience this spectacular event!

DAY 1

By the moment we set foot in Davao International Airport, we were transported to the MICECON "world."

Here's some of MICECON's gimmicks to promote the event to incoming guests and delegates.

Touchdown Davao!!!

Some perks and hero’s welcome treatment we had : Photo booth! Free Pomelo Welcome Drinks! Free Shaaades! :))

Outside the Davao Airport, we had service buses to transport us to and fro the Convention venue. (This is what you call event branding!)

We checked in at Crown Regency Hotel.

This sign was funny :)

We had some time to rest and to prepare for dinner.

We stayed in a Villa! Jovy, Lyza and I had this whole room for ourselves :))

Come evening, we attended The Black Circuit Lounge Welcome Dinner at Waterfront Insular Hotel. 

Attire : Black and White

Yummy cocktails for the night!

DAY 2 

MICE Conference at SMX Convention and Hotel hopping for lunch and dinner
Conference Theme : Galactic Explosion; Gold, Silver and Bronze

As we fisrst stepped inside SM Lanang Premiere, we were welcomed by Galactic people in their silvery costumes :)

Welcome to SMX Lanang Premiere, Davao! We're in the exhibit area 

Servers were also from outer space! Even the breakfast itself were in Gold and Silver! WOW. 

The Exlink Team in Gold, Silver and Bronze  

This is the welcoming number. Truly, the conference venue was converted into a galaxy!

President Aquino is our Guest of Honor for this year's MICECon

We had our East meets West themed Lunch at Marco Polo Hotel

We were welcomed by these acrobats? 

Welcome to Marco Polo Davao!

The Dessert Table. The Cake is made out of Durian! :)

Going back to the bus that will transport us back to SMX

Our White Chocolate Tablea Souvenir treat from the Marco Polo Davao

After lunch, we had a continuation of MICE Conference at SMX 

We have a Free M.I.C.E. Book! :)

Even snacks have branding and sponsors - that's marketing! :)

One of the remarkable practice I saw in this conference is that they have a downloading station where delegates can get the soft copy of the speakers presentation. Very convenient, and wise!

Our dinner was hosted by the City Gov't of Davao held at the Grand Ballroom, D'Leonor Inland Resort. Dinner Theme : MADAYAW DABAW! Life is Here.

 

We had Pomelo welcome drinks and Suman served by these Davaoenos in their ethnic costumes :)

The Governor's Night was one of the most amazing banquet I've ever been to! Aside from the good food, they also showcased a LOT of cultural presentations which can prove that IT'S REALLY MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!

We have the BEST SMILES in the world :)

Tribes eat nga-nga, and this is how they look like. Creepy but very unique and distinct.

Our Souvenir for the night : Notepad and Wallet wrapped in Tinalak weaved by the T'boli Tribe :)

DAY 3

MICE Conference at SMX Convention and Hotel hopping for lunch and dinner
Conference Theme : Convergence; Mosaic of Colors

This is our attire for the day! Very colorful and vibrant :)

Hallway to SMX. This time, we were welcomed and greeted by people with colored cloths 

The Stage is now colorful and in line with the theme

Breakfast were also fun and colorful. We even have candy jars and colored drinks

Our snacks were distributed the these cool servers inside these colorful tables :)

For today's themed lunch, it was Brazilian Mardi Gras at Royal Mandaya Hotel

Welcome drinks anyone? :)

We all got masks :)

By lunch, we have entertainers on stage, serenading us as we eat

Yummy!!!

Buffet every meal time! I will really get fat with these!

Goofing around :)

Our Durian Souvenir Keychain from Royal Mandaya Hotel

Then finally for our last themed dinner, it was The Clark American Dream hosted by Clark Development Corporation at the Waterfront Insular Hotel
Attire : Red and blue cocktail attire

with DOT III Regional Director Ronnie Tiotuico

A not-so-wholesome Fashion Show  

We had a great cocktail dinner served by Davao Chefs. :)

I just love desserts!

Our souvenir from Clark Development Corporation

After dinner and since it was the last day of the conference, we went to Ms. Rhaine Lim Crisostomo's place : World Palace.

We drank, party and sang the whole night till the next morning! :)

DAY 4

MICE Mart
*This is for a special registration, additional P2,500 per delegate. But it’s a good opportunity to talk one on one with target buyers and sellers. Theme was White Corporate Attire.

As for the most of us, we had a free day in Davao City.

We had breakfast at the Fifties Café inside Crown Regency Hotel.

Ms. Rhaine was kind enough to offer us ride, toured us around the city.

We bought pasalubong at SM Davao and in the pasalubongg center, then went back to the airport.

Indeed, this is one avenue where you can say that IT’S MORE FUN IN THE PHILIPPINES!!!

Next year, the host for MICECON 2014 is Clark,Pampanga. I hope I can attend. I hope YOU can attend.

See you in Clark!

Shainey