Survivor Philippines: The BMS+Blacksheep Version in Nagsasa Cove, Zambales

We were supposed to go to Anawangin Cove in  Zambales but on our way to Zambales we found out from one of our googled boatmen contacts that Anawangin’s full ( 400+ campers for the long weekend) so we opted for NAGSASA COVE instead.

Thanks to the power of the internet, we found out that there are too many people on Anawangin Island through some boatmen contacts that we found online. We decided to go to Nagsasa Cove instead.

Nagsasa Island turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because most people are after Anawangin Cove but it turned out that Nagsasa Cove has better beach, better privacy and we didn't have to line up to take turns using some of the limited “facilities”. (comparison from those who's actually been to Anawangin before going to Nagsasa Cove) 

We arrived in Pundaquit, Zambales at a little over past 8pm.  (Parking fee is Php 100-150/night, depending on the season) We took the 8:30pm boat ride in good faith, everyone was nervous during the 1 hr boat ride trip.

We stayed at MANG TOTOY'S CAMPSITE, in NAGSASA COVE, ZAMBALES: 

 

Mang Totoy, his store and a view from his campsite

MANG TOTOY CAMPSITE, NAGSASA COVE ZAMBALES

Contact Number: 0999.176.9830

Boat name: DEFENDER (holds 9-12 pax)

Boatmen: 

Arturo Matuguina / Bong Matuguina: 0999.176.9830

Reynald Liwarin: 0910.816.2974

*** Contact the boatmen and ask them to take you to Mang Totoy's Campsite in Nagsasa Zambales so they can reserve the camp site for you. 

*** Mang Totoy's Campsite is gearing towards the right side of the island, coming from Pundaquit. 

Things to expect in Nagsasa Cove, Zambales:

• Pundaquit (Where the parking and the main shore) to Nagsasa Island is 45 minutes to 1 hour boat ride
• Nagsasa Campsite to falls – 45 minutes
• No cellular phone signal
• No electricity. At all.
• No slightest hope of internet connection
• It’s a good thing we stayed at MANG TOTOY’S CAMPSITE, (Entrance is Php 100/head/night) because he owns probably one of the only stores in the island and here are some of the things you can buy from his store:
• Soda (softdrinks) – Php 80
• Bottled water for drinking – Php 45 / Php 15
• Nescafe 3-in-1 Coffee – Php Php10/sachet, includes 1 styro cup
• Canned goods like sardines, tuna etc.
• Candies, Chips, Noodles
• Sanitary Napkins and other toiletries

Tips:

• You can also request to rent a “gasera”, Php 40 will last 3 days.
• The wood used for bonfire is Php100/set, they can set it up for you.
• Mang Totoy can also arrange a trekking trip to two type of falls (prices are negotiable): 15 minute trekking to the  “small” falls – Php 30/head1 hour trekking to the “real” falls – Php 100/head
• They have a decent and slightly decent changing rooms and toilet where you can take a bath. They have installed faucets so no need to manually pump water. Not bad for trying to “roughening it up” for the first time.

The moment we arrived the guys took charge of our tent "compound"

Boys check how to make fire to cook food, us girls check the nearest decent bathroom/comfort room

Our version of our Island food

This is what it looks like, waking up in Nagsasa Cove, Zambales:

 

Kuya is a local of zamables, he walked all the way from Subic.

They charge the huts Php 100/night. It's best to bring a tent... I just couldn't resist taking a photo of a manong in a jejecap. 

It's not sand, it's LAHAR! 

View from the mountain.

 To save money on bonfire wood, the guys looked around for improvised wood to start fire

All work + All Way = The BMS Blacksheep Way! 

On our last night we had hotdogs, s'mores (roasted marshmallows), wine and beer. Some of us literally slept under the stars. ( Something I need to check off my things-to-do list, haha)

I am always the first one to wake up in our group and I don't know why. This is what Nagsasa Island looks like around 6am. No sunrise shot, sun is on the other side of the mountain. I love this blurred photo of Lyle getting out of his tent. He looks like he was ejected from his own tent haha. 

7:30 am we went to the nearest small falls. It's 10-15mins of walking from the beach front.

The small falls

 by 8:30am we loaded our things to the boat:

1 hr boat ride back to Pundaquit, Zambales

And inspired by my friend Joy’s assessment strategies from work, she calls it GDD (What was GOOD, what was DIFFICULT and what we could’ve done DIFFERENTLY):

GOOD:

• The place is not crowded and our tents are strategically located near the rest room
• Surprisingly there weren't any horrifying mosquitoes but it’s good to bring some insect repellent lotion.
• We were able to just relax and chill because there’s nothing to do. You’re not forced to check on your office email, Facebook, twitter and other social networking sites that hinder you from face-to-face interaction with real people.
• You get to really bond with people, make new friends with fellow campers, do crazy things on the beach (like my cousin went skinny dipping in the dark and literally took a bath in sea water late at night, haha!)

DIFFICULT:

• It’s challenging not having electricity.
• Also quite challenging when you’re used to taking long comfortable showers.
• Challenging not have cellular phone signal. It has really become a necessity.

DIFFERENTLY:

• Pack less clothes. Trust me on this.
• We could’ve brought more mat/sleeping bag, another sarong to sit on the sand.
• We could’ve brought more beer, food and chips, drinking water.  It’s expensive to go thirsty and hungry on the island.

***Special Thanks to my guest photographers: Rogus Solis, Ronald Hernandez, Jan Pollisco and Stewart Blackett.

I visualized @jenniepperson's book & @yeyeahye brought it to life!

I am on financial discipline this year that’s why declining some out-of-town trips have been easier for me. Before I’d be the one planning out every out of town trip and taking lots of pictures but now I prefer taking it slow. (Read: I think I am getting old. Lol!)

I blogged before how I love Jenni Epperson. She came out with her first book last year and if I’m still in the city I’d be the attending her book launch last month. I was able to check out how much her book costs, but since I am on financial discipline, I can’t afford it for the meantime no matter how much I wanted it. I mean, I can but it just didn’t fall into my “first quadrant”.

But still, I never lost hope that I will be getting the book. I have visualized my self, reading it. I have seen myself owning the book. I have felt how good it feels on my fingers as I was flipping through the pages. My good friend and my fellow member of  #TeamJENNIration (what Jenni calls her followers/fans/blog readers) Yeye, wanted the book  as well.

Remember how Law of Attraction works? Can you imagine that I almost squealed when I got this tweet last monday:

Yeye sent me a twitpic! Thank you so much Yeye! 

Sharing is Caring nga! Thank you for the book Yeye!!! This made my day!!! Ang dami kong exclamation points!!! 

And today I finally got my copy of Jenni's Fashion+Food Book! I'm still at work and I can hardly wait to go home, put on my PJ's and read the book!

Jenni Epperson's Fashion+Food book is available at all Bookstores Nationwide.

Reason to stay at home on a weeknight: Two Broke Girls

My current series obsession is Two Broke Girls. Someone tweeted it before and I got really curious so when the local cable channel started to offer it, I made sure to download episodes, in fact I thin I was 6 episodes ahead.  I thought New Girl would be so cool, but I didn’t really fall into the New Girl Bandwagon. I was bored after the first episode.

Two Broke Girls is accdg to Wikipedia:

Set in the Williamsburg neighborhood of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, the series chronicles the lives of two waitresses in their early twenties—Max (Kat Dennings), who comes from a poor working-class family, and Caroline (Beth Behrs), who was born rich but is now disgraced and penniless due to her father being caught operating a Bernard Madoff-esque Ponzi scheme—working together at a Brooklyn restaurant. The two become friends and build their dream of one day opening a cupcake shop. Among those working with them at the restaurant are their boss, Han Lee (Matthew Moy); Oleg (Jonathan Kite), an upbeat Ukrainian cook; and Earl (Garrett Morris), the cashier. At the start of each episode Max is shown serving a table and at the end of each episode, a tally shows how much they have made toward their goal of $250,000.

2 Broke Girls co-creator is Michael Patrick King from the defunct Sex and the City (one of my faves that I bought the entire series on VCD) and the show did have some controversy.

My favorite character would be Caroline Channing (the blonde) because I love how optimistic she is and how she sees the good in the bad. Since this year will be all about positivity and good vibes for me, I like Caroline because she also believes in ... VISION BOARDS!

*** Photos from the Internet***

Have you guys seen the show? 

The Antik Thrift Shop

Who would have thought that you can find hidden treasures just by walking along Lopez Avenue on your way to the bank to pay your bills? We didn't think so.


I was on my way running an errand when my eyes accidentally laid on this shop. There's no sign, no specific landmark, but just the one that is nearby a food store. Land mark does not even have relation to what this place is all about. 


This is The Antik Thrift Shop.


I've passed by Lopez Avenue, though not on an every day basis, but I've practically know the stores upon first glance. I knew I have read this place used to have a sign somewhere but now it's gone, like the place was a secret with hidden treasures inside. And yes, it was indeed a place for treasure. Antique Treasure.


Spirit of the Past, Treasure of the Future - is what says on the probably antique glass window. My eyes were busy rummaging the place, while my friend who was with me, who hates shopping by the way, suddenly had eyes that's wide with bewilderment. I had forgotten that she's an antique collector and her family is an antique and art dealer from Casa Manila. This girl knows these things and I don't. 


We were met by the nice owner of the shop, Mr. Frank Micosa. He used to work for the DZLB station of UPLB and after more than 30 plus of service he retired to do his passion: Arts and Electronics.

Meet the owner, Mr. Francisco Micosa

When I saw  how fascinating this place is, I asked Mr. Frank if I can feature his store in my blog and he agreed, so the very next day, I dragged another friend to the shop to take photos!

I was very fascinated by the old school cameras (note: the mini tripod is not for sale)

They have old plates that goes from way back, old watches, lighters, pens, wood sculptures etc.

Brass, old clocks, mini alcohol bottles that are all collector's items

I kept thinking about the Paco Amino poster, I think I have seen this at a restaurant before then my friend says: It's the one up in Pancake house restaurants! PAK! Tama!

Brass Candle holders, old school lighters, really old portrait of someone's first communion and a painting of Jesus.

The army stuff caught my fancy: These water bottles form AFP goes all the way back in 1944, and I checked at the bottom.  Some even have initials on it and the one with the black bottle cap even has the camouflage part of the uniform.

Tea set, vintage Buddha, last supper carving and old school iron that uses charcoal

Vintage soft drinks bottles, lamps, brass goblets and more.

 This Antique store was also feature in a periodico!

Antik Thrift Shop was featured in The Philippine Daily Inquirer last December 2009. Read online Article here.

I'll let you in on a little secret: Some Antique dealers from Tiendesitas and Manila gets some of the stuff they sell here. My friend was able to get a really nice deal and that usually costs around six grand. 


I cannot disclose the price but it was more than a steal. :)




For inquiries:

Francisco "Frank" Micosa
Contact Numbers: 0910-582-2833 / 049-827-2942

Project Lemon Chicken with Mommy Chef Faye + @laiahdear

I've been bugging Faye to make me a "Lemon Chicken" meal for the longest time. We're supposed to have it on my birthday but then due to Holiday Schedule we had to put it on hold.


One saturday I got a call from her telling me her weekend plans have changed the last minute and asked me if I wanted to make the lemon chicken today. Good thing I dragged my friend Aya who's with me and if only Pearl did not have a doctor's appointment, she could've been taking "Domesticated Gals" classes today as well.

 Please be informed that I can't cook for shit. If being able to fry means being able to cook, then maybe yeah, I can cook a little bit. This year one of my plans is to have at least one signature dish.

Attempting to understand how to make Lemon Chicken

Aya and Cheska goofing around with a Special Guest: The Lemon

Here's Faye teaching Aya how to make the "Maskipaps" dessert. Master Chef Faye can do no wrong, deym! Haha!

Taking my assigned task very seriously.

Faye doesn't like her photograph taken so here are some of the snapshots of her magic hands

And the finished project: Dyaraaaaaan! 

The Lemon Chicken and The "Maskipaps" Dessert.

Maskipaps - is a circa 90's term referring to "Maskipapaano", which mean whichever/whatever.  Faye was inventing dessert from scratch inspired by Tiramisu.

Faye makes sure her guests are always well fed. I can't stay at her house while on a diet because she always cooks the yummiest meals and disguises veggies into appetizing treats. 

Though shall not dare Faye to "discover" a recipe, because she will. No fail. She's like my UPian Jenni Epperson. :)

Now I'm on a quest for our next project. Burp!

Ooops! :)

It's More Fun in the Philippines!

If you're on Twitter, you probably have heard of the top trending topic #itsmorefuninthephilippines.

This is Philippines' new tourism slogan and it's been trending in twitter since 10am!


Of course, Pinoys, not all pinoys are in the bandwagon. But you would have to agree that Pinoys are talented and has a wicked humor:

My half-Pinoy, half-British cousin turned down a free 21-country world cruisejust so he can spend 12 months in the Philippines. He's been here for two whole months, immersed in our culture and probably the longest he's ever stayed compared to the trips he made when they were young.

I asked him if he regrets turning down the free world cruise ( and believe me, everyone says he's crazy for doing that) he says that There's just something about the Philippines...

Sources:

http://itsmorefuninthephilippines.com/
http://www.jenniepperson.com/lifestyle/it-s-more-fun-in-the-philippines/
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/243739/scitech/socialmedia/it-s-more-fun-in-the-philippines-becomes-an-internet-meme

My top 5 Female Positivity Pegs

Listing down new year resolutions is so IN during the first week of the year, since I am most often, if not always, not in the bandwagon, I’m listing my top female Positivity Pegs

Divine Lee

All the beckies and the beckies-at-heart knows who Queen Mother Becky is. I am so happy I  discovered her blog when I was randomly checking out twitter profiles and I’ve been hooked ever since.  I love Mother D’s sense of humong, palung-palo sa mga bakla, and I love how she stands up for her cause. She does Charity work and advocates for equality on top of her being a model/endorser/businesswoman. I admire how hardworking she is.

Bianca Gonzales

I came across Bianca Gonzales blog even before she got her own domain and though she doesn’t blog as much as before, I am at awe at how grounded she is. She’s  a celebrity and yet she’s very “normal” just like the rest of us. 

Jenni Epperson

I came across Jenni Epperson back when I was still reading KC Concepcion’s college blog. I have to admit that I was inspired to blog about positive things and have bookmarked her sites from her multiply blog, then to her blogspot blog and finally when she launched her own website.  She’s my life peg and she made it to my vision board for this year. 

Patty Laurel

I just came across Patty’s new blog when the designer I’m following on twitter retweeted her blogpost. She only started writing in her new site late last year and I’m hooked that she’s very grounded. She recently got engaged and I love her cute sense of humor.

Tessa Prieto Valdes

This woman is often overdressed but I love her creativity and I am sure people always look forward to what she’s wearing next. Even before Lady Gaga became a sensation, Tessa Prieto Valdes has always been the brave one to don colorful wigs, long, bright lashes and not to mention costumes that is almost her everyday outfit. She spends 3/4s of her time during charity work not to mention juggling work and being a mom. I really would love to meet her someday.  I don’t care if I would look totally jologs coming up to her for a photo op, I really want a photo with her! 

What all these women have in common? They all exude positive energy. 

Word for the Year

Source

Happy New Year!

No real-life-new-year-celebration pictures for this post but I well-lived my life off cyberspace during my Christmas break. It was a brilliant idea for blogspot to have scheduled posts so I can very much program everything that needs to be published before the year ended.

I met up with a friend right before New Year’s Eve and we both got into describing how our past years went by and what ONE WORD to describe that entire year.

I’m going to share mine, but go figure:

• 2008 - Liberate.
• 2009 - Risk.
• 2010- Change.
• 2011 - Cleansing.

And for 2012, I will start with the WORD first to guide the way and path of my entire year. My word for 2012 is... DISCIPLINE.

How about you? What’s your word?