In the Sands of Misibis Bay

I always love the beach.  It gives me a sense of tranquility that I cannot find in this urban jungle.  Looking at the sky and the waves of the sea just reminds us that we are just one of God's creation.   So when I got a call inviting me to Misibis Bay, it didn't take me long to decide to go with them.

Mt. Mayon

Going there was quite exhausting.  After boarding a 1 hour flight, we rode a van for another hour going to the Pier, cross the sea for 15 minutes in a speedboat, and take another 20 minute winding ride to the resort.  The trip is not for the disabled. There were instances we have to hike up and down crude stairs with steps that were just 1/2 inch wide and are so steep , estimating to be at around 70 degrees angle.

bedroom

The staff were commendable.  They really serve you the extra mile.  I have been terribly spoilt by the staff.  They gave us fruit platters in our rooms every night.  Sometimes, they surprised us with burgers for the kids. If I just hinted to the staff that I fancied a particular dish, I could readily expect it to see in my room later.  And any request for extra towels and amenities were given with that big smile on their faces.

The rooms are beautifully done in modern asian theme.   They have the beds overlooking the sea.  And they have the day beds overlooking the infinity pool and the sea.  They even have Salvatore Ferragamo toiletries. How swanky can one get!

But the beach was a bit disappointing to me.  I was expecting white sandy beach. Instead I got yellow sand with little rocks on the shore.  And the beach needs to be cleaned regularly by the staff.  I saw empty soda cans in the beach premises.  You never get to see that in Amanpulo.

The pools are magnificent!  You would never experience crowding in the pool.  The pools on the entrance are long and winding , which reminds us of the pool in Sofitel , except that theirs are longer and cleaner with lounge chairs in the middle of the pool.  Nice!  And the pool in front of the beach is their crown jewel.  It is amazing to be swimming in that pool, overlooking the beach and the sky.  And when you get tired of swimming, just hang out in the pool bar located inside the pool too.    As if that weren't enough, our room comes with our own infinity pool.  Small and yet exclusively yours and also overlooking the beach.

It was also a bit monotonous to be eating at the same place every day, three times a day.  The resort only has one restaurant.  Good thing our room comes with a spacious balcony with a view of the sea. So on our second day, we asked the waiter to set up our meals there.    The food is reasonably priced and is cooked well.   They make good Sinigang na Hipon, laing and their pastas are quite good too.  My personal favorite is the pizza "caraguay".  That's their own rendition of pizza with laing and binangoonang baboy and hard boiled eggs.  One thing I noticed though is that they lack consistency in their quality of food.  The pinakbet today will be very different from the pinakbet tomorrow.


Now, let's talk about the rates.  It's expensive. I don't think anybody will argue with that.


Room Rates:
Standard              Garden View                   for 2 persons           13,800
Poolside               Junior Suite Deluxe          for 3 persons            18,800
                             Premiere Villa                   for 3 persons            18,800
                             One Bedroom Deluxe       for 4 persons            26,800
                             One Bedroom Premiere     for 4 persons            33,800
Beachfront          Junior Suite Premiere        for 3 persons            22,800
                            One Bedroom Luxury       for 4 persons            30,800
                             Luxury Villa                      for 3 persons            40,800


So, after indulging in this resort for 4 days and 3 nights, do I want to go back?  Yeah sure, if it's for free.  Or if it's offered to me at half its rack rates.  But considering the price and the place, I'd rather take my money to Amanpulo, where the beach is white and sandy, provides me with more exclusivity and consistency in the service, and a more relaxing trip going there.

Amanpulo: My Own Piece of Heaven

Just like any typical Filipino, I have my own share of visiting the various beach resorts our beautiful country has to offer.  

But nothing , and absolutely nothing truly beats the experience of being a guest of Amanpulo in Palawan.

Amanpulo has its own charter flights.  Remember the planes of Indiana Jones?  Well... it's something like that.  You would most likely fly with around 10 people and the rest are supplies to be flown to the island.  There is a lounge where you can wait for your plane and it boasts of a good supply of drinks and pica-pica and a very spacious and luxurious bathrooms, with a functional aircon and a relaxing music.

Upon embarking, you will all be warmly greeted by the staff of Amanpulo. And each family will have its own golf cart so you can be mobile while you stay in the island.   But the beauty of it is when you open your room for the first time.  Cold aircon will greet you with the fragrant smell of flowers and relaxing harp music surrounds the room.  By the way, they use BOSE products to play the harp music in your room.  And the bed is soooo BIG.  Since Im big, I really do appreciate a king-sized bed.  The bathroom is also so spacious, compared to the average bathroom in hotels, that my maid can place her bed inside the bathroom and she is still comfortable.  The bathroom has a bathtub and a table at the center to highlight the orchids elegantly displayed.  But what touched me was when they knew I was bringing my kids.  Kids are free of charge so I brought my 2 toddlers with me.  They prepared their arrival.  They put Graco cribs and playpen.  They put lots of coloring books and activity books on the table beside our bed.  There were even balloons for my kids in the bedroom.  And upon our doorstep, there is a stroller waiting for us. Such keen attention to guests who are there for free...  that truly touched me deep down in my heart.  So unexpected!


At the back of our casita are 2 daybeds and a duyan for anyone who wants to rest outside the airconditioned room and enjoy the fresh breeze from the sea,  Then walking for a few more steps, you are already on the beach.  The casitas are actually on the beach already , separated only by shrubs from the sea.  The beach is simply MAGNIFICENT!  Truly, nothing can compare it. Not even the famous Boracay.  The sand is so fine and so white.    And the water is so blue and clear.  Hardly can you see anyone in sight.   Which brings me to my next topic.

Yes, guys and gals, you can have sex on the beach.  You are allowed to have sex on the beach, on the shrubs , in the swimming pool, in the daybeds, under the stars.  The staff at Amanpulo are trained to look the "other way".   Did I ever try it?  Almost.  I started undressing my top , then my bikini, But my partner balked at the idea of being all naked in the very open beach, that he put his penis under the sand and never came out.   And I remember he kept shrieking "Someone might see us! Dress up! Oh no, I think I hear someone coming."  In the end, I gave up and we just played with the baby sharks located at the far end of the beach.  But well.. I didn't put back my top on.  It was just too liberating to be topless at a beach.   Just that my partner was in constant agony that I will be seen by a living person.  Who cares?

If you are lucky, the management of Amanpulo will hold a BBQ dinner buffet to be held at the beach.  This is reminiscent of my days in Hawaii. While the sun is setting , you are lulled by the sea breeze and the sweet music of guitar.  

The library was a haven by itself, especially to a bookworm like me.  They have a good collection of books, DVDs, newspapers and they have a computer with internet connection for anyone to use.

But what makes Amanpulo occupy a special place in my heart is that I have come to depend on it as my go-to place whenever I need some time alone.    When I was still single, our family never fails to go to Amanpulo at least once a year.  It was our time to get away from it all.  When we have personal problems, mom's answer to that is a trip to Amanpulo to give us time to ponder on our doubts and fears.   When I was pounding my head on the numerous formula I have to memorize in preparation for my CFA licensure exams, mom brought me to Amanpulo so I can really concentrate on studying.  And when my sister was about to get married, mom also escaped in Amanpulo to accept that my sister is going to live away from us.  Fact is, my second child learned to first walk in Amanpulo!

Now, it's been 4 years since I stepped on the fine sands of Amanpulo.   I miss that place! I checked out their prices today expecting a lower rate due to the rainy months. They quoted me P 34,990 per night.  Minimum of 2 nights. And if I remember it right, the charter plane is $275 per person.

Ohhhh, Im so tempted.

So, Where Do We Invest Now?

When I woke up this morning, I witnessed the faster-than-gravity falling of the stock markets all over the world.

But while everyone is trying to sell off their stock holdings, I was looking around for bargain hunting.

Top of my list is :

1)  HSBC -  this bank is the number 1 bank in the world during the Lehman crisis that shook the world in 2008.  This is very significant to investors like me.  IT means that this bank has made it well during crisis, it means that they have done due diligence during the good days compared to other global banks. Im buying this at $70.

2) Bank of China -  Bank of china is one of the biggest bank in China. They own majority of the shares of Chiyubank and has performed nicely in the previous years.  Their books look good.  Banks in china are government controlled, and I do believe the China government will not leave this bank in shambles.  Besides, the treasure chest of China is just overflowing.  I may buy this at $3 - $3.10

3)  Odyssey Asia Pacific High Dividend Fund -  Majority of this fund has exposure to Australian stocks and it closely resembles MSCI Asia Pacific ex Japan.  I like this fund because , not only do you gain profit from the blue chip companies of Australia, you also gain from their currency valuation.   I previously bought this at the low of 9.2.  Sold it at 10+.    It went as high as 10.8.    Now, I like to buy more at 9 to 9.3.   There are companies in Asia  that are undervalued and badly influenced by the U.S. Economic crisis.  When the crisis subsides, these companies will be up for grabs again by investors.  Minimum investment is $5000.

4) Pictet Premium Brands -  People will always be greedy.  People will always want to keep up with the Jones'.  So here's a toast to them.  To all the wives who purchased those $10,000 worth of Hermes bag, and to all the men who purchase those $2,000 worth of LV bags for their mistresses, let the insanity of materialism ensnare you to continue filling up the pockets of the investors.  And for us , little investors, let us take the crumbs of profits from the investors by investing in funds with exposure to luxury brands like hermes, LVs, BMW, etc. at Pictet Premium Brands.  Minimum investment is $1000. Let's buy this at 100.

5)  Value Partners High Dividend Stocks Fund - this fund is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and invests primarily in a portfolio of relatively higher yielding debt and equity securities in the Asian region.  This was given a 5 star rating by Morning Star.  Minimum investment is $10,000.  Let's buy this at $50-$52

Elbert's Cheesesteak in Rockwell

Nothing de-stresses me better than a good Philly Cheesesteak, and for this purpose, Elbert's Cheesesteak located at the basement level of Rockwell Mall delivers.

I heard from the grapevine that their rendition of Philly Cheesesteak is superb!  So, one rainy Saturday afternoon, I went to Rockwell, got a seat and ordered their American Cheesesteak. It's 320 pesos and add another 80 pesos for fries and drinks (sola, minute maid or soda).   They have many types of Cheesesteak:  American, Provolone,  Pizza.  They also offer Burgers and Hotdogs. I asked the cashier what is their best-selling item and she said it's American Cheesesteak.  So that's what I ordered.  

I waited for around 10-15 minutes for my order to arrive.  Oh man, when I took my first bite, I had to close my eyes for the sheer pleasure of my palate.  It was served hot and fresh from the grill.   The beef was of good quality, which was a surprise for me.  In this country, Im used to being served with bad quality beef, especially if the beef is intended for just a sandwich.  But that's where Elbert's difference lies.  They use USDA beef, good quality stuff and eating their cheesesteak makes you realize that the price is just worth it.  The cheese just recently melted with the beef from the grill makes an excellent companion to the beef and bread.  They have a generous amount of onions in their cheesesteak which is just perfect for me.  

The fries was also perfection in itself.  I had a hard time deciding which I should put first in my mouth: the fries or my sandwich.  At that time, I wish I had the mouth of cookie monster so I can put it all inside and not miss a second of the pleasure it offers.

Maybe the only downside to eating in this joint is that you are seated at the mall with no privacy to speak of.    People ... no, the better word there is CROWD.  Imagine you are eating this great sandwich while the CROWD of mallers walk in and out, in and out, passing you by, looking at what you are eating, and let's not forget , we have to be double vigilant on those quick fingers.   So that part is a downer for me. 

The next day , I was craving for it again.  But I have to watch my weight now.  So I can just write about it and hopefully derive pleasure from people who can taste the same goodness as I did at Elbert's.

Of Being Heroic

I come from a family of firefighters --  volunteer firefighters.  Our living room is equipped with this black telephone that is off-limits to mindless chatterings because this is where they receive the calls for help.  It is a common occurrence for our family to gather around the living room on a typical Saturday night.  But when that phone rings, the men in our family would quickly don their firefighter uniforms and hard hats and go to the firetrucks which were conveniently parked in front of our ancestral home.

We were also used to deaths.  I lost my uncle while he was on duty.  The fire was supposed to be out and they would have called it a day.  But then a random fireball just came out of nowhere and hurled straight at his head.  His brains were all scattered on the streets.  He left 3 of my cousins without a dad.

I wanted to be a firefighter and join my cousins. But my parents prohibited me from being so.  Besides, there was no way the group would have accepted a girl as a firefighter.  So I have had to settle being left alone in that living room so many times when there was fire.  It was a pity that God blessed me with a big healthy strong body and yet, I cannot use it to serve my community.

How then do I serve my countrymen as  a girl?  Or am I forever condemned to stand near the hearth?  But God indeed has many ways to answer our prayers.

I do not have many talents and skills, but one thing I seem to do well was make babies and feed them with my own breastmilk.  How many times did I donate my breastmilk at Makati Medical Center?  Ondoy came. There was news that many babies are dying due to the contamination in the water served with the milk powder.  They were calling on new mothers to donate milk.  I tried not to heed this call because my own baby is premature and she came out weighing 3 pounds only.  The doctor said we cannot give her the usual OTC milk powder.   I must feed her with my breast milk if I want her to grow healthy.   So my first instinct was to keep my milk supply for my baby.  It didn't help that my own house was also affected by the Ondoy flood and water almost reached the 2nd floor of my house.   But the call to give was too strong for me to ignore any more.  And so I decided to produce more milk.  And boy did I deliver.  I was producing 25 oz of milk every 3 hours, 24/7.   That also meant no real sleep for me, just endless continuing naps.   Soon, my breasts were getting bigger and bigger, until my own husband got scared of how big they became.  They were like two bombs about to explode.   But I continued... sometimes crying on how grotesque my breasts have become.  Of course, I anticipated my breasts to really sag when I stop producing milk.  Finally, Ondoy subsided and victims found ways to live by the effects of Ondoy.  My baby reached 1 year old, and I can stop breastfeeding.  As anticipated, my breasts sag.  It looked worse than the breasts of my 90 year old grandmother.   I cried.  I was never a great beauty but I always had beautiful breasts that drove men wild.  And now, what's left of me are 2 breasts that looked like they were run over by an 18-wheeler truck.

So for many months, I refuse to look at the mirror.  I just accepted the reality of ugliness.  No regrets in that department.  But sometimes, I feel sad.  The little vanity that I have laments over the loss of my only claim to beauty.

Philippine Labor Laws

The Philippine government continues to protect the Filipino workers like spoiled children with the passing of bill regularizing the contractuals or those employed in manpower agencies.

It is very easy to paint the employers like scheming stooges, out to enrich themselves at the expense of the sorry plight of the common workers.   The workers on the other hand are great at exaggerating their contribution and exemplary behavior while taking the 6-month job like a bitter pill.  Our telenovela-crazed country would easily feel sorry for this poor workers.  I am not surprised.  I gathered 4 of my best buddies who are UP graduates and they too feel the same sympathy for the workers like the rest of the nation  It seems that the only people who can really take a birds' eye view are those that actually have dealt and managed company workers.

Our labor laws are not fair.  They are more inclined to be biased towards the employees.  And this is not an opinion.  Anybody who experienced attending negotiations with DOLE can attest to this.  Just like that the Philippine laws favor husbands rather than wives in cases of adultery.

But does over protecting the Philippine workers doing them any good?  The typical filipino workers are known to be lazy, seek opportunities to steal products/money and would file for unnecessary overtime to get more from their salary.   In contrast, the OFW's are known to be hardworking, efficient, flexible and reliant.  Now , what accounts for the difference in the attitudes of the filipino workers?  It seems that the stricter labor laws outside the country make them more vigilant and conscious of the quality of work they provide their foreign employers. While the protection our government provides our workers causes them to be laid back, negligent and sluggish.  This is like the very picture of workers in a communist state.

It is also surprising that the government is not alarmed when seeing manufacturing companies leaving the Philippines and transferring to neighboring countries.  Other governments would encourage, provide enticements for the manufacturing companies to stay, to provide jobs to its people.  But our government leaders remain to be lethargic to the continuing flight of companies.  Is it because they do not understand the economic implications of this?  If it is, then it is sad when the government officials who are supposed to be the servants of the filipino people and who should serve the interests of the masses would not lift a finger to stop the closing down of factories and corporations, leaving many people jobless and poorer.
The common workers, unable to find job in this country, would then apply to be an OFW.    Thus, the number of OFW 's keep on increasing in number.  It is a pity when our OFW's earn praise abroad and yet they remain to be the bane of the employer's existence in their own motherland.

So the next time we hear our government leaders giving praise to the OFW's , we are reminded that the growing number of OFW's is a sign of our government's negligence in providing sufficient jobs to our people.   IT is because the government is not doing its job that the filipinos are forced to leave their family and earn money abroad to help their loved ones.  It is a constant reminder of our government's failure to pass and implement laws to ensure the protection of a growing family.

 There are some days when hours are slow.  And you are trapped in the same old routine of your life.  A good Tv series can liven up your day.  IT can hardly give meaning to your life, but it can make your days more interesting... more tolerable.

Im not a TV addict.  There are only a handful of shows that can sustain my interest.  Supernatural is one such TV series.

The show revolves around the life of Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers belonging to a family of hunters.  They lost their parents to demons and they follow their path to hunting and killing demons.  As the show progresses to 2nd,3rd and now 6th season, the brothers tackle angels, the 4 horsemen and even Satan himself.   They had their days in Hell and Heaven.  And they expanded their circle of friends and hunters to angels and even demons.

If you are religious fanatic, you may not readily accept the portrayal of angels in the 4th or 5th season.  It shows that Heaven suffers the same politicking just like our corrupt governments.   And some angels can be working against the interests of people too.  So, if you are a conservative Christian, I would not suggest this TV show for you.  Or if you faint at the sight of blood , better choose another TV show. Otherwise, this is one of the most entertaining TV series I have encountered.  They don't need to sweeten the pot by showing some sexual scenes or super gory pictures of murdered men.  The story line itself is well written and characters are multi-dimensional.   You find yourself growing with the characters as each season unfolds.

It does not hurt too that the 2 brothers are really nice to look at.  And the music they play are alternative rock, my kind of music.  

Burlesque

To escape boredom, I went to Greenhills to watch the new movie in town , titled Burlesque.  I was alone. I was ready with my popcorn and drinks.  I took my seat and bam! Was I in for a big surprise!

The movie Burlesque starring Cher and Christina Aguilera is such a feast on the eyes with its nonstop choreography and dazzling stage.  

From the moment the movie starts, you are riveted to your seats and hoping you are not missing anything on screen.  You will definitely NOT go on a bathroom break watching this movie.  I almost forgot I have popcorn on my left hand.

Cher is definitely not a has-been.  She looks amazingly good given that she is of the same age as my mom.  I cannot imagine my mom looking half as hot as Cher.   She played her role as a strict but caring owner of the bar to the hilt.  One can almost believe she is mean until she slowly unravels her sensitive and caring nature by giving chance to the newcomer played by Christina Aguilera.

Christina Aguilera is a revelation in this movie.  I never considered Christina Aguilera as pretty as Britney Spears.   But her youthful looks really shone in this movie.  She just looks so young and innocent and driven.

Burlesque is a type of dance that reminds us women of the bygone times when a woman enjoys her curves, revels in her vulnerability and finds strength in her sexuality.  In this note, this movie definitely delivered.