Hidden jewels of Surigao del Sur

Britania Group of Islands | Photo by: http://thetravelteller.com

Cagwait Beach | Photo by: Jojie Alcantara

Enchanted River | Photo by: Jojie Alcantara

 

Hinayagan Cave | Photo by: Glenn Peñaranda

Lake 77 | Photo by: Glenn Peñaranda

Tinuy-an Falls | Photo by: Glenn Peñaranda

4-tiered Tinuy-an Falls

Dear Sole Sisters,

       Ever since I saw your post about the Philippine 21-day Challenge, I have been contemplating on putting up a post that would showcase the beauty of my hometown, Bislig, Surigao del Sur. I know that Lois has been to Surigao recently but I believe that she has not seen the rest of the hidden jewels of Surigao del Sur.

Some of the marvels that we have:

• Britania Group of Islands - this is a collection of 24 islands and islets scattered at the Lianga Bay facing the Pacific Ocean. (http://thetraveteller.com)
• Cagwait Beach - Cagwait White Beach Resort also known before as “Waikiki Beach” of the Philippines as called by famous pilot Charles Lindberg, located in the town of Cagwait, province of Surigao del Sur. In modern times, this beach, was credited as “Boracay of Caraga”.(www.caraganon.com)
• Enchanted River - One of the most magnificent bodies of water in the Philippines – the Enchanted Hinatuan River. True to its name, the river looks fascinating with its majestic blue water.(http://www.wayph.com/enchanted-river-hinatuan-surigao-del-sur)
• Hinayagan Cave - The first cave is 100 meters in length, 15 meters radius entrance with creek water coming in and Miniature Falls. The sunlight passes through the 10 meter diameter opening in the middle ceiling. It also has 50 meter wide swimming area that leads to the entrance of the second cave. You can also find an underground river and stalactites that are mostly forming elephant trunks and balusters. While the second cave is 1,800 in length and there is a waterfalls in the mid part of it. (http://www.bislig-philippines.com)
• Lake 77 - Lake 77 is a newly discovered tourist destination in Barangay Mone, Bislig City. Good for picnic, fishing and boating with cottage. (http://www.bislig-philippines.com)
• Tinuy-an Falls - 95 feet wide with an 180 feet plunge from its three cascading falls – this is the image that earned Tinuyan Falls the moniker Little Niagara. This is also the very reason why, when visiting Mindanao for a backpack adventure, you must never forget to include in your itinerary a pit stop adventure in these wondrous falls located in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur. (http://www.wayph.com/tinuy-an-falls-bislig-city-surigao-del-sur)

      
       Some of the reasons why you should include our little town in your itenirary is that first, we are along the way when you are traveling from Surigao or Cagayan (which are both entry points to Mindanao from Visayas) towards southern parts of Mindanao such as Davao. Also, most of our tourist spots are located around 1-2 hours away from each other which means that you can cover all those wonderful spots in a day or two. Hotel accommodations as well as living expenses are very affordable. To add, sea foods here are plentiful, fresh and budget-friendly. 

       I hope that you would consider to include us in your itinerary. Also, if ever you are considering to invite people to join you on the Philippine 21-day Challenge, I would love to go on a trip with you both, especially if it means traveling our very own country.

Sincerely,

Laserhenna

www.laserhenna.blogspot.com

The Darkest Hour

Philippine Showing: January 25

St. Basils Cathedral

This poster illustrates how the invisible aliens can easily disintegrate humans into dust

Max Minghella as Ben, Olivia Thirlby as Natalie, Emile Hirsch as Sean and Rachael Taylor as Anne

Max Minghella as Ben carrying the microwave-spitting weapon

the aliens

 

Emile Hirsch as Sean trying to look for invisible aliens | how hard can that be?

Anne and Ben

Inside the apartment/cage

After class, (yes, I have classes on Sundays - parang Sunday school lang. haha!) my classmates/friends and I went out and had dinner at Coco's South Bistro.After dinner, we headed to Abreeza and had reserved tickets for the movie.

The Darkest Hour.

Director Chris Gorak (Right at Your Door) teams with producer Timur Bekmambetov for this tense apocalyptic thriller centering on the fight for survival waged by five youths who find themselves stranded in Moscow during an alien invasion. As the invisible extraterrestrials absorb all of Earth's energy and life forms, finding a means of escaping the unstoppable attackers becomes a seemingly impossible task. Emile Hirsch, Olivia Thirlby, and Max Minghella star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

High points:

• Storyline. The storyline of the movie is quite similar to other apocalyptic thrillers but with a significant twist in the sense that the invaders are cloaked in an electrically-charged shield that affects the environment around them. What I got really excited about was the idea that the darkness is safer than the light! And so to survive, they have to lurk in the dark - which is commonly more terrifying in reality. Also, the twists of the story was unpredictable. I totally swear I was caught off guard. Yes, some of the sequences were quite predictable but there are some that will totally surprise you and make you feel really sad. :(
• Setting. Producer Timur Bekmambetov said that "the 3D thriller is one of the rare films that have showcased the characteristic beauty of Russia." After this movie, I am in love with Moscow, Russia. I have seen its marvel in Amazing Race before but it has struck me to a new intensity now. The architecture, the history and the culture - all now seemed so wonder-and wander-ful.
• Thrill. The thrill is killing me. It made me put my hand over my mouth almost throughout the film so that I wouldn't scream inside the cinema house and humiliate myself. The cinema is 2/3 full, btw.  
• Special effects. The effects was impressive. We watched it in regular cinemas but still the effects looked realistic and innovative, quite different from what we have seen before.  My favorite was when the aliens are invading the world, they seemed aurora-like apparition in the sky. They looked like beautiful and gigantic rain drops. 
• Actors. The actors are effective in bringing the emotions to the table. Many times during the movie had I felt various emotions and I credit that to the efficacy of the actors. 

Low points:

• Inconsistency. At the first half of the movie, I admired how they made the invasion so realistic basing everything on science and using logic to explain everything that they know of the invaders. However, the scenes reached to some focal points of the movie wherein they did a complete 180 and bended some of the logic they have established. You'd understand what I'm trying to say when you watch or have watched the movie. I don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't. :)
• Ending. The movie ended so soon. I can't believe that 89 minutes had gone by that fast. I don't know if it was because I enjoyed it that much or was it because I was looking forward for more, that I felt the the problem was left unresolved. However, I learned (after watching the movie) that their aim was to survive and not to destroy the invaders. But in the movie, they made me believed that they can defeat the aliens. I was so into that idea that I felt so disappointed that it ended.
• Climax. The climax of the movie was unsatisfactory. It was thrilling indeed but it felt far less that what I envisioned considering that the movie started really strong for me.

 Verdict:

Overall, I find the movie so-so. It's the movie that you won't miss a thing if you haven't watched it but still you're in for a good thrill if you do. I like to watch horror or thriller movies because I enjoy the feeling of anxiety (weird, i know!). The most exciting thing for me would be asking myself, how would I act in the face of this kind of adversity? Clearly an alien invasion is, hopefully, not in our future. The film is really about young people trying to figure out who they are and what it takes to survive and be with their loved ones.

Happy watching!

Love,
Me. 

Bench anniversary | haul

January 27, 2012

Bench celebrated its 25th Anniversary.

Happy Anniversary BENCH! :)

Growing up, I loved, shopped, adored and used their products.

From their scents, make-up, sanitizer, body products to shirts, hankies, bags and even to their candies and potato chips (which they phased out, too bad!) I loved them all.

My latest obsession was with their socks. 

As a nurse, we are always in whites, as in everything in white. Back when I was a student, I used to be a little fug sometimes and used colored socks, just to put a pop of color to the plain boring white uniform.

And whenever I look for colored socks, I always end up in Bench. I have looked almost everywhere only to be disappointed. They are the only store I think that have this kind of stuff.

A few days back, even before I learned about their anniversary, I did a little haul at Bench.

 I bought 8 pairs of socks and guess what?! 

I only paid 25 pesos for all of them.

WOW!

How? I used the points I have earned using Bench's lifestyle card.

I have been using the lifestyle card that my mom got for me. Every time we shop at bench, I use it and got points and used the points to pay for the socks.

This is not the first time though, I have used the card and got a shirt and briefs for my dad, blouse for my mom, kikay pouches for my sister and me, make-up brush, hair brush, face towels and now the socks!

Thanks Bench! 

Again, happy 25th year! And i'll be looking forward for the next 25 years!

Love,

Me. :)

Shout out to Lanie

I am currently in the process of cleaning and organizing my things.
Then I saw these.

 

I remembered as we arrived in Seoul, Lanie welcomed us with an Etude House paper bag with lots and lots of accessories for Monique and I. There were so many accessories that we decided to keep what we really like and give to our friends the rest.

 That was so thoughtful of her and so sweet as well.
So I thought I ought to give her a shout out!

Thank you Lanie!!! ❤❤❤

www.lanieinkorea.com

Color Therapy: What To Wear To Uplift Your Spirit

Have you had a bad day? Or have to deal with someone or something that is totally bringing you down? A break-up perhaps? Or a huge fight with your mom or your best friend?

Whether you believe it or not, the things and the colors we choose to wear reflects how we are currently feeling at the moment. 

Have you ever wondered why the sky is blue?

the sunset pink?

or the grass is green? 

 

I also don't know why but all I know is that these things makes us feel good and uplifted.

As you guys can see, colors make us happy. We feel good about the world around us because of the colors that we see. So why not wear more color to feel good about ourselves? 

The colors around us can really affect and change our moods, and so can the clothes that we wear. 

So, let's talk about the power of the color in your wardrobe.

I guess this is called color therapy.

This one-piece dress has multiple colors which shows one's confidence and energy. When finding for the perfect accessory, find the color that already exists on the dress. As you can see there's blue, pink, orange, brown on this dress. So, I took the orange and made it the focal point of the whole outfit by adding orange accessories like the necklace and the bangle. 

Orange is a stimulating color similar to the color red. It is visually a dominant color which is a sign of energy and creativity. It takes a lot of confidence to wear orange from top to bottom. So if you don't feel comfortable wearing orange from top to bottom, you can simply add orange accents to the outfit just like I did in this model. Orange is a fun and vibrant color and you'll realize that the people around you will start to notice your energy and liveliness.

Don't be shy to wear orange and show your true confidence. 

Wearing color does not only affect your own mood but also affect the people around you and how they react and respond to you.

Pink is an affectionate and loving color and indicates having an open heart. When a person is wearing pink, may it be you're a male or a female (yes, guys can wear pink too!), you seem to be more approachable.

Yellow is a bright color. When in a dark room, yellow can make the dark room brighter, it's almost like seeing the light in the end of the tunnel. Yellow is an uplifting and perky color that is why it is usually associated with the brightness of the sun. It translates that a person is optimistic and warm.

In this outfit, we practice the technique of color blocking. I chose the model to wear nude sandals so as not to make the outfit too busy because of the two bright colors we already have.

The color green is a calming color. They say that when you are wearing green, you can easily gain the trust and confidence of the people that you are dealing with. And as you know, there are many hues of green. The deep green color, same as the skirt in the model, is a sign of prosperity, wealth and abundance. The lighter green, shown in the blazer of the model, is a sign of new beginning and restoration. So if ever you are feeling exhausted and burnt out, try wearing a softer pastel shade of green. 

Last but not the least, blue symbolizes relaxation. When wearing blue, it shows that you are calm, in control and at peace. Since blue is a calm color, when you're having a bad day or just got out from a bad break-up, blue can actually bring you down. Avoid wearing dark shades of blue from top to bottom as it tends to suck up all your energy. Try wearing lighter shades of blue or add pops of vibrant color such as red.

Red is a stimulating and naturally makes a person feel empowered and energetic. Red can stimulate and increase one's appetite and can make an individual really excited. Red can even elevate our pulse rate slightly without us noticing it. 

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Fashion and clothing aren't just there to make you look good. It is also a way to make you feel good about yourself. Clothing and color have the power to heal your shattered spirit or mend your broken heart or to make you feel empowered and in control. Sometimes, all we need is some fashion and color therapy. 

Today, I'm wearing pink and I'm happy.

What are you going to wear today?

Stay happy and chic girls! ♥

Love,

Me.

Accessorize

 This parcel arrived today. I've been waiting for this one for forever.

Accessorize boho bag. 

I love the colors and I adore the intricate details and bead works. So chic and girlie.

Bought this at Ebay.ph. for only Php 500. Used once only. It's a great deal I must say!

I really like Accessorize. I always visit their stores but I can't seem to get myself to buy because it is way too expensive. I know that the quality and uniqueness is worth every penny but still. And hey, I'm jobless! So I say this is quite a steal!

Yay! Happy ME! :)

Kopi Roti | with Julienne and Marc

kaya toast

kopi bun

french toast with soft boiled eggs

hot choco

Julienne and I

Julienne and Marc

I am sick for a couple of days now. Fever and cough. Huhu!

Yesterday, I have no class and I opted to stay home to rest. I slept throughout the day, woke up for a few minutes several times to answer Mama who's calling to check on me. 

I finally woke up at around 9pm. And with an empty stomach. My bestfriend Julienne called me up to check on me too and I said that I was sick and hungry. They came here in my apartment to bring some stuff and we went out.

It was already late so we figured to go to a coffee shop, I'll just order something that will fill me up.

Kopi Roti is only a few blocks away from home and so we went there.

Kopi Roti is a 57-year-old Singaporean coffee shop that serves a variety of Singaporean specialty beverages and breads. It has started its operation in the Philippines around August of 2005. It opened a branch here in Davao 2 years thereafter. Kopi means coffee and Roti means bread. So, it literally means coffee and bread, which they actually serve in their shop.

Julienne | Kaya toast + hot chocolate

Kaya toast is a thinly sliced toasted bread served with Kaya spread and butter. 

I tried this and I liked it. It's like a highly-densed cracker that is crispy yet tender at the same time. The spread is of the right richness and the taste is light and subtle, nothing is over empowering. 

Their hot chocolate is very authentic. You can actually taste the cocoa in it, not the sugar. As a matter to the fact, they don't add sugar to all of their beverages. What they do is they pour a liberal amount of condensed milk before they pour in your coffee, hot chocolate or tea in the cup. That's the white section you can see at the bottom of the cup in the picture.

Php 130

Marc | Kopi bun + hot chocolate

Kopi bun is a soft bread with coffee-flavored crust and has a sweet-buttery filling inside. This is Kopi Roti's house specialty and this separates them out of the rest of the coffee-shop scene.

Marc also gave me a quarter of the bun to try. The bread is really soft it's like melting in your mouth. And the filling is so heavenly. The crust tastes really like that of coffee and is albeit crunchy. This is the first of its kind that I tried and I love it. I kind of regretted that I didn't order this. Haha!

Php 115

Laserhenna | French toast and soft boiled eggs + hot chocolate 

Fresh bread dipped in egg batter, pan fried and served with Kaya spread. 2 soft boiled eggs in special soya sauce and white pepper.

I love eggs and french toast, thus the reason why I ordered this meal. The french toast was pretty ordinary, nothing special about it. On the other hand, the soft-boiled eggs are perfect. I love medium-rare eggs. I don't like the yolk cooked or in worst cases, overcooked and dry. I like it when the yolk oozes out when sliced and I love the texture of the yolk when paired with the bread. So, I loved this combination.

Php 150

Other choices: Kopi jelly, peanut butter toast, kaya puff, homemade iced tea and more.

Overall, Kopi Roti is above satisfactory putting everything into consideration: the ambiance of the shop, the service, the taste and satiety of food/drink served as well as the cost of the products.

Recommended! :) 

Kopi Roti

Ground floor, LZ Dental Center Bldg.,

Jacinto Ext., Davao City