Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

PGMA’s Farewell Speech

Yesterday, June 23, 2010, outgoing Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has given her Farewell Speech:

As usual, her speech were so full of ‘administration’s accomplishments’ which I personally call PANUNUMBAT. I don’t buy her “Sa totoo lang…” tag line on most of her “glad to be of service” infomercials. Public servants SHOULD NOT do that because it is your responsibility to SERVE the Filipino people – YOUR TAXPAYERS. The ordinary people DO NOT OWE YOU ANYTHING.

Many were hoping to hear the word ‘goodbye’ from PGMA but hell, she didn’t say it. Because she’s here to stay. She’s no fool who’ll just shout “sell my timeshare!” at the end of her term.

Mommy Moments: Dear Dad

mommy moments

This week’s Mommy Moments’ topic is all about letters, art works or messages our kids have for their dads or those letters that we would like to send to our own dads.

My daughter is still not into writing but she loves drawing caricatures of her family and you would ALWAYS hear her say “Dad, you’re the best dad in the world!” Her dad would say that she is closer to me because we’re always together but I know that she is a  daddy’s girl by heart.

Here are the latest photos of my daughter with her “fathers”:

with her Tito Meem

with her Papa Koks, my uncle

with her great grand-dad Tatay Noy

with the “best dad in the world”, daddy Marcelle

You might be wondering where my dad is…oh well, he’s very camera shy and he wouldn’t be happy if I post his photos here haha

Our Unforgettable Zoobic Safari Experience

We didn’t pass up the chance to visit the Zoobic Safari – the first and only tiger safari in the Philippines. It’s an experience we’ll never forget! The heat was intense but we enjoyed the entire visit nonetheless.

Here are some of the highlights of our visit:

Launch of Zoobic Cave

Zoobic Cave has an array of real stuffed animals in their natural habitat.

Launch of Forbidden Cave

Forbidden cave provides a thrilling forest adventure with shaking hanging bridge that will surely excite guests in a walk through attraction.

One Big Green Park Tree Planting with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
Together with Zoomanity Group and Zoobic Foundation President Robert L. Yupangco, the Boy Scouts of the Philippines planted seedlings to help bring back life to make the Philippines “One Big Green Park”.
Planting of seedlings are done in the following locations:
  • Zoobic Safari – Subic Bay
  • Paradizoo – Metro Tagaytay
  • Zoocobia – Clark
  • other places

Aside from that, we also enjoyed Zoobic Safari’s current attractions:

  • The Zoobic Park – pet friendly animals a you walk through a tropical jungle. Have a live interaction with deers, ostrich, albino carabao, bear, monkey, eagle, miniature horse, ducks, camel and many others.

Yona with Tita Iris of Pinay Ads

  • Savannah – A sanctuary of the wild that features a wide range of ostriches, potbellies, wild boars, and guinea fowls.

The friendly ostrich that scared the hell out of us. Okay, OA lang talaga kami haha :)

  • Serpentarium – A place where you can see snakes, lizards, iguanas, turtles and a lot more cold blooded animals.
  • Rodent World – Zoobic Safari’s collection of rodent animals.
  • Muzooem – A collection of real animal bones and preserved skins.
  • Close Encounter – An exciting close encounter with Siberian and Bengal tigers to witness their huge appetite.

  • Tiger Safari – Have a once in a lifetime adventure experience riding in a safari jeep were you will enter in a close fence structure and be fascinated to see the live tigers roaming around as they thrilled you with their vibrating growl.

  • Bird Walk - Feed lovely birds with your own hands!
  • Croco Loco – A thrilling adventure with Zoobic Safari’s collection of crocodiles.

  • Animal Parade – We witnessed Zoobic Safari’s animal show (10am) and parade (3pm), done usually on weekends and holidays. It features both farm and exotic animals with colorful costumes riding beautifully decorated carts and flying pigeons, guinea fowls, and more.

The dancing poodles!

a camel

and yes a monkey in equestrian clothing!

Johnny the Monkey knows how to act too! In fact, he has appeared in some television shows already.

These and more at Zoobic Safari!

Other amenities includes:

  • Safari Grill and Buho Restaurant
  • Tram Rides
  • Zooper Shops
  • Animal Photo Encounter

Entrance to Zoobic Safari is P449/pax

Kids 4ft. below: P100 Discount on entrance fees
Kids 3ft. below: Free Entrance
Senior Citizen: 20% discount
No Food and Drinks Allowed

Zoobic Safari opens 8am to 4pm daily.

Zoobic Safari
Group 1, Ilanin Forest, Subic Bay Freeport Zone
(047) 252 2272 / (047) 252 9489
www.zoobic.com.ph

School Preparations

In a few weeks, classes will soon start in both public and private schools. As a mom to an incoming Junior Kinder (yes, I am just starting!), I am excited, thrilled and anxious that my baby will soon be in the big school. It’s making my heart bleed because I am not ready yet to let her go :(  I know that she’ll have her first taste of independence the moment she steps into her classroom. I’m so pathetic, ain’t I?

But whether I like it or not, I prepared all the things she needs for June 14. And since this is the first time she’s attending school, don’t deny me the happiness of buying all her necessities. First child, first school so mommy is very excited :)

  • School Uniforms – I bought sets from their school and it was really expensive. Imagine P705 for a teeny-weeny set?
  • School Shoes – This I have to buy yet but we’re eyeing a leather shoes from Barbie.
  • School Supplies – The school provided this.
  • School Bag – She already has one – big enough for her things, yet small enough for her tiny shoulders.
  • School Books – Done with the covers and labels.

What preparations did you do?

Here’s one unsolicited advice to moms of incoming 4th year. Let your kids take sat preps in order for them to be ready for the aptitude tests for fourth year students. The preparations will help prepare them not just on the tests but will emotionally prepare them as well.

Zoobic Safari’s Forbidden Cave and Zoobic Cave

Yona and I received an invite to the launch of Zoobic Safari’s new thrilling adventure – the Forbidden Cave and Zoobic Cave.

The launch is set tomorrow at 10am so we are leaving Manila at exactly 6am tomorrow along with the rest of the invited bloggers.

Zoobic Safari is the ONLY Tiger Safari in the Philippines. This wonderful place is located in Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Subic, Zambales. The safari started its operations in January 2004 and since then it has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.

This is actually our first time to visit Zoobic Safari but we frequent their mini-zoo in Residence Inn, Tagaytay as we live near the place.

Unlike common zoos, Zoobic Safari is located inIlanin Forest – a 50-hectare heavily forested area in Subic Bay Freeport Zone. The animals here like tigers, ostriches, crocodiles, bear cats, baby goats and sheeps move freely and are not caged. Would you pass up the rare chance to actually feed them or observer them up close?

It’s going to be one tiring yet fun-filled day tomorrow with my little one. We were required to bring extra clothes and towels because it is really hot there (arrrg! which reminds me that it’s 37.5 in Metro Manila!). The Philippine government should perform energy auditing and make use of  the extra solar energy, don’t you think so?

Let Kids be more Creative with Canon Creative Park

Last May 8, 2010 Yona and I joined Canon’s first ever free art workshop entitled, “Be Inspired with Canon Creative Park”.

Children 3 to 12 years old including their moms engaged in exciting arts and crafts activities facilitated by Teachers Angela Mapa and Corina Pettijohn.

We were taught to do the following:

  • origami puppies
  • colorful CD sleeves
  • greeting cards complete with envelope

All materials provided were printed using Canon Pixma Printers (and boy, I went home with a Pixma ip2770 that day!

Learn more about the Canon Creative Park.

The next art workshop will be held on June 19 in the same venue from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. For those interested in participating, call 8849090 local 9139 to register before the event.

Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter & the expensive Dolby 3D Glasses

After almost 10 years and 4 animated movies later, the Shrek Saga has come to an end with the “Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter.”

The story:

When things are going well in the happy kingdom of Far Far Away, it’ no place for this down-and-out magical dealmaker who needs to bargain for a better life when everything is going great? But even before the ink is dry on his pact with Shrek, the new kingdom is Rumpelstiltskin’s domain. The villainous trickster lords over the land with his witch battalion… and he’s even placed a bounty on ogres, Shrek and Fiona in particular, to get rid of them once and for all. Watch how our beloved green Shrek leads the battle to regain everything that matters in his life. – Inquirer

We were among the first to watch Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter in 3D or otherwise and we have Eastwood Cinemas to thank for. It was also the launch of the first ever 3D cinema in Eastwood City so we were so lucky to be there. What makes it so special was that it was my first time to watch a movie on 3D so I was so excited! (bonus na lang na first time kong nakita si Kris Aquino-Yap and kids during the press screening! LOL) I was with Yona and it was also her first time so I was expecting that she’d get cranky in the middle of the movie but boy I was wrong! She was glued the entire time the movie was shown!

Get Ready for the “Expo Mom Year 3″!

MAY 23, 2010

10:00am – 8:00pm

ROCKWELL TENT, MAKATI CITY

Scholastic Book Fiesta: Summer Warehouse Sale!

Kids Ahoy’s Summer Camping for Kids!

When I was a kid I used to wish we have Summer Camps in our place because I’d only get to see them on the movies. I always ask my nanay why we don’t have summer camps in Leyte when kids in the US have summer camps the entire vacation.

Kids learn a lot during the summer that’s why it is important for us parents to teach them things traditional schools couldn’t provide – like working with friends in the woods, cooking using only the available utensils – all these things that they can only do outside the classrooms.

In summer camps children will learn to appreciate nature first and foremost, to be independent and to work well with others – the same set of values they need when they face the real world.

Kids these days are so lucky, they have limitless opportunities within reach.

Here is one summer camp that I want Yona to attend (though I know that she’s still too young and Teacher Lei could not babysit her haha – can you Teacher Lei?).

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