Bohol Countryside Tour
Saturday, August 11, 2018
Food and Travel
The Philippines is simply beautiful. There are so many wonderful sights to see, so many interesting places to visit, so many delicious food to eat and so many generous people to meet. With its 7,641 islands, there is always something that awaits all who come to visit.
One of the most popular tourist destinations in the Philippines is the island of Bohol. It has it all: alluring white sand beaches, wildlife encounters, crazy adventure parks, historical sites and captivating landscape views. That's basically everything your dream destination should have.
Our long overdue Barkada travel goals finally came to fruition, as we decided to go to Bohol for a quick weekend getaway to celebrate our first year as young working adults. My friends came all the way from General Santos City. I met them in Cebu City and together, we traveled via Fast Craft to reach Tagbilaran City. How we managed to catch our boat? That is a story that includes shoving, walkie talkies, running, shouting, sweat, basically more like an action movie. Our boat left Cebu at 6pm and we arrived at Tagbilaran around 8pm. We explored the city to get a general feel of local life. We then crashed for the night at our very cheap accommodation as tomorrow will be quite a day.
7 AM - Pickup Time
We rented a van that offers the Bohol Countryside Tour Package. As much as we wanted to see the rest of Bohol, we didn't have enough time since there are still some more places we have to visit back in Cebu. The package already comes with a driver and costs 2500 pesos. It can accommodate up to 12 people, but there are only 5 of us. This is really cheap if you consider 12 people though. Entrance fees to the attractions are not included in the package.
The driver picked us up at our inn and we were ready to go. We asked him to let us grab some breakfast first though. We wanted to save some time so Mcdonald's takeout it is!
The Chocolate Hills
The Chocolate Hills is not only Bohol's most identifiable landmark, it's also one of the Philippines signature landscapes. It's beauty is something we've only truly seen in post cards. The chocolate hills consist of no less than 1260 hills of almost equal size and uniform shape. The hills vary between 30-50 meter high. With this incredible natural sight to behold, it is truly unbelievable that this isn't a man-made attraction. The hills are green but during the dry season, they turn chocolate brown, hence its name.
Simply Butterflies Conservation Center
Simply Butterflies Conservation Center is the first butterfly livelihood breeding and conservation program in Bohol. It is said to house over 200 species of butterflies. Your entrance fee will already provide you an incredibly entertaining tour guide. Learning about butterflies was more fun than I initially thought. This was a fairly quick stop though.
Loboc Tarsier Sanctuary
A Tarsier is basically Bohol's tourism mascot. They are cute tiny furry creatures with big googly eyes. They're also the world's smallest primates, however, they are now considered endangered animals. It's nice to see a tarsier, but please make sure that every tourist is responsible. They are suicidal creatures and are easily distressed. The sanctuary has signs and railing all over the place, warning people to strictly observe silence, respect the tarsiers, no touching, no flash photography. Still, while we were there, I've seen tourists cross over the lines just to get closer a closer look at these delicate creatures. Not cool.
Man-Made Forest
The man-made forest is a 2-kilometer stretch of mahogany trees that fill the terrain. Tourists visiting the Chocolate Hills will not miss this, as it situated where Bilar meets Loboc. The trees were planted as part of a reforestation project that started over 50 years ago to replace trees lost from the evils of kaingin (slash-and-burn farming). It was the perfect site. It was cold, silent and peaceful. You do have to be careful of speeding vehicles though.
Python Sanctuary
Bohol's Python Sanctuary is home to The Philippines' largest captive reticulated python (Python reticulatus) or baksan in the native language. Prony, the female python, measures 8 meters and weighs more than 300 kilograms according to a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) estimate. Prony died in 2013 due to an unknown reason. The locals said that she died shortly after her owner died, which is popular Filipino pamahiin (supernatural belief). The sanctuary still continues to operate, showcasing Prony's offspring as well as Prony's remains.
Baclayon Church
Bohol has a lot of beautiful old churchs, the most popular of which is probably Baclayon Church. It is just six kilometers away from Tagbilaran City, Bohol and is said to be the second oldest stone church in the Philippines. The church was constructed in 1595 by the Jesuit priests. It currently houses important relics of the Roman Catholic history in the country. Sadly, the church was severely damaged when a massive 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck Bohol on October 15, 2013. It has been undergoing restoration immediately after. We only got to take a picture on this side of the church, construction was still ongoing when we visited.
Bohol Blood Compact Site
The last place on our list, The Blood Compact Site serves as a historical memorabilia of The Sandugo. This commemorates the mixing of blood between Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and Rajah Sikatuna which symbolized a forged friendship between the Spaniards and the Filipinos. The monument was created by Philippine National Artist Napoleon Abueva, who is also a native of Bohol. The shrine is easily accessible to tourists and offers a fantastic view of the ocean.
After a tiring day, we headed back to the pier and boarded our boat that would take us back to Cebu. Although we only stayed in Bohol for less than a day, this trip will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
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Review: Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheet (Green Tea)
Sunday, August 5, 2018
beauty
The benefits of Green tea is not particularly new information for us. It has a long list of health and beauty benefits that could put any other ingredient to shame. Not only does it calm your tummy, but it can calm down angry skin too. Due to the various properties of green tea, it has long been embraced by the beauty industry.
This brings me to the sheet mask that I'll be reviewing today: Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheet (Green Tea). Nature Republic is a K-beauty brand that's extremely popular worldwide.
Product Description:
REAL NATURE GREEN TEA MASK SHEET. Green tea extract deeply moisturizes and helps the skin stay moisturized.
How to Use:
1. After washing face, apply toner to prepare the skin for the next step of skin care.
2. Open the pouch, pull out the mask, and place on the face, using the eye area to align correctly.
3. Remove after 10-20 minutes and gently pat for better absorption.
Ingredients:
WATER, BUTYLENE GLYCOL, PEG/PPG-17/6 COPOLYMER, GLYCERIN, CITRUS PARADISI (GRAPEFRUIT) FRUIT EXTRACT, PEG-75, ALCOLHOL, PEG-60 HYDROGENATED CASTOR OIL, CAMELLIA SINESIS SEED EXTRACT, XANTHAN GUM, SODIUM HYALURONATE, DISODIUM EDTA, PHENOXYETHANOL, FRAGRANCE
Price:
1-2$, but I bought this in directly in Korea and it cost me 10,000₩ for a pack of 10 sheets. That's roughly 20 pesos each. Such a steal!
Experience:
I remember buying this mask, I wasn't really into K-beauty then, or beauty in general, so I asked the sales attendant from the Nature Republic store what she recommended for me. She took one look at my face and she said that I had troubled skin (I was having a serious breakout moment then so I don't blame her!). She told me to get the Chamomile version of this mask for skin calming purposes and then add the Green Tea version for extra moisture.
The packaging is alright, nothing special. The rest of the Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheets are incorporating the same design.
Opening the mask, you can recognize the smell easily. Classic green tea. Calming and soothing to the nose. Seriously, who doesn't love the smell of green tea?
The mask is thin and the cut outs are just right for my eye area. I once again, ripped the sheet while positioning it, so I didn't bother to position it perfectly. I might rip it more. I'm too strong for these delicate sheets, I guess. The mask is a bit big, so if you've got a smaller face, this might be a problem. It was alright for my big face though.
The sheet itself is drenched in essence, with the packet having more than enough. I like to use the remaining essence for my elbows and neck. Since the essence was hefty, it was dripping down my neck. You can clearly see this in the photo below.
The packaging is alright, nothing special. The rest of the Nature Republic Real Nature Mask Sheets are incorporating the same design.
Opening the mask, you can recognize the smell easily. Classic green tea. Calming and soothing to the nose. Seriously, who doesn't love the smell of green tea?
The mask is thin and the cut outs are just right for my eye area. I once again, ripped the sheet while positioning it, so I didn't bother to position it perfectly. I might rip it more. I'm too strong for these delicate sheets, I guess. The mask is a bit big, so if you've got a smaller face, this might be a problem. It was alright for my big face though.
The sheet itself is drenched in essence, with the packet having more than enough. I like to use the remaining essence for my elbows and neck. Since the essence was hefty, it was dripping down my neck. You can clearly see this in the photo below.
Thoughts:
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Blair Waldorf Best Style Moments
Saturday, July 28, 2018
fashion
It's been more than a decade ago when the first episode of Gossip Girl launched on our TV screens. Little did we know that it'll become a social and fashion phenomenon that would define our generation. I still remember that I was in high school then when I would stay up late just to wait for the latest episode because I could not go on any further without knowing the juicy details about the scandalous lives of Manhattan's elites.
Although it may seem like forever since Gossip Girl said her last "XOXO" but Blair Waldorf, gloriously played by the very beautiful Leighton Meester, still continues to reign supreme as the Queen Bee in our hearts.
Sure, Blair can be mean, petty and harsh on the surface, but she's also intelligent, driven, strong and kind-hearted. She has exquisite taste, incredibly stylish and most especially, she knows her worth. She became a role model for many young girls, including me. She taught us to not settle for anything less than what you deserve, to follow your dreams, fight for love and of course, to always, I mean always, be impeccably styled. So in honor of our favorite mean girl, here is Blair Waldorf's best style moments during the entire six season run of Gossip Girl.
Blair wearing a Zara Kids skirt while spending time with her father's new husband is our dream holiday look.
I
Who could totally pull off such a sparkly ensemble? The Queen B herself.
Leave it to Blair to standout even when she's just going to school, cause you know, where better to showcase your collection of loud tights and flashy coats, right? Say hi to her signature slim red headband too!
Nothing much, just a casual day out for the Upper East Side's resident mean girl.
When Blair Waldorf goes to brunch, expect nothing but another sophisticated ensemble.
When you mix fruit print with another fruit print in a dress, it usually doesn't work. But when you add Blair Waldorf into the mix, it suddenly becomes a sold out hit! This is B and S walking down the streets of Paris (Gossip Girl Paris episode is a treat to your fashionable eyes!). Sorry S, even if I love your outfit, I had to crop you out of the picture. :*
Headbands! Whenever I hear the name "Blair Waldorf", I can't help but think of headbands. It surely is her signature accessory. If you tell me you didn't try to rock headbands just because Blair did, you're surely lying. I know I did!
Another outfit from their Paris episode. This is the dress Blair was wearing when she met Prince Louis after being dumped by Chuck, yet again.
Blair never went to a party and disrespected the dress code. Oh and can someone tell me HOOOOW could you NOT tell someone those 8 words, 3 letters, while she's looking as amazing as Blair does in this dress? TELL ME CHUCK!
Pearls plus headband? Power dressing done right.
Yes, Serena van der Woodsen has great style too, but that's worth a totally different post in itself. Thanks for reading! XOXO.
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Review: The SAEM Pure Natural Snail Mask Sheet
Sunday, July 22, 2018
beauty
Although it doesn't sound appealing and luxurious (probably icky too!), snail mucous is one of the key ingredients in the Asian Beauty Market. It was introduced in Asian skincare sometime around the 2010's and is now prevalent in beauty products we see on the shelves. Snail secretions are highly known for their moisturizing, anti-ageing and healing benefits.
I tried this face mask from the Korean brand, The SAEM. As a skincare newbie, this product marks my first encounter with snail mucous.
Product Description:
The SAEM Pure Natural Snail Mask Sheet is a concentrated snail mucous extract formula that deeply moisturizes and nourishes the skin. The four types of white flower extract complex promotes clear and bright skin.
The SAEM Pure Natural Snail Mask Sheet does not contains artificial colors, parabens, benzophenone, sulfate, triethanolamine additive in its formulation and is one of two Pure types - Snail and Ginseng.
Ingredients:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Snail Secretion Filtrate, PEG-75, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Chlorphenesin, Glycyrrhiza (Licorice) Root Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Schizandra Chinensis Fruit Extract, Coptis Japnica Root Extract, Cingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Fragrance.
Price:
Around $1-2.00 (Php50-100). I'm not quite sure about the price point as I got it as a gift.
Experience:
I love the packaging. It's so simple and oozes a very elegant vibe. As the saying goes "Don't judge a face mask by it's packaging" (or was it originally about books? Haha), but who are we kidding? We buy sheet masks for their cute and creative packets and it's perfectly fine!
I noticed the perfume-y scent immediately as I opened the pack. It wasn't bad or anything, but it's just something that you'd really notice. The sheet itself was thinner than most masks I've tried. I actually sort of ripped it while pulling it out of its package. I guess I came on too strong.
There was a lot of essence inside but it did not drip all the way to my neck. The fit was great, just a little bit of crinkles here and there but overall, fantastic. I felt a tingly sensation during initial application but it subsided after about a minute or so. I left it on for 25 minutes as stated in the directions.
It dried down quite well and I love the non-sticky feeling it left. My face did not look oily or icky, it looked plump and hydrated. However, its extra hydration effect were only good for a couple hours. This is a let down since moisturization is The SAEM Pure Natural Snail Mask Sheet's main selling point. I didn't notice any breakouts after using this product, which is always a plus!
Upon writing, I have used this mask a couple of times all with the same result.
Thoughts:
Nothing is technically wrong with The SAEM Pure Natural Snail Mask Sheet, however, I wouldn't repurchase because of the fact that there are other masks available with the same price that would likely give me better results. I will still finish my stash of course.
That's about it for me. Hope you enjoyed this short review. Have you tried this mask? Do you use any products with snail mucous?
Note: This post is not sponsored in any way.
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Buffet 101 International Cuisine
Saturday, July 14, 2018
cebu
There are loads of buffet choices in Cebu City. Some are cheap, some are mid-priced and there's the hotel buffets. Fortunately, Buffet 101, a buffet restaurant in Cebu, combines mid-priced affordability and a five-star hotel setting. With it's intricate interior decor and ballroom like size, you'll surely dine in elegance and luxury.
It boasts of a wide variety of food choices ranging from Japanese to Mexican. They also have several stations that's fitting for every food craving you may have. They have a Seafood Station which you can choose any fresh seafood and have them cook it for you in anyway you want it to be cooked.
They have a Pasta Station where you can request a certain pasta dish in their menu to be prepared for you. In their Steak Station, you can ask for steak, whether it be beef, pork or lamb and have it ready in the way you want it. A shawarma station where you can make your own shawarma. Their drinks station also contains free flowing draft beer and sangria wine. How awesome is that? Their dessert station is worthy to serve any sweet tooth and chocoholic.
For such a diverse buffet, the price you'll be paying is worth every penny.
Buffet 101 is located at City Times Square 2, near Parkmall, Mantawi Drive, Mandaue City. Their lunch buffet is from 11:30-2:00am and their dinner buffet is at 5:30pm-11:00pm.
Note: This post is not sponsored in any way.
Note: This post is not sponsored in any way.
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Revlon ColorSilk Dark Ash Blonde
Saturday, July 7, 2018
beauty
I usually don’t go to the salon for minor hair color changes and touch ups. I found it easier (and cheaper!) to do it at home using drug store hair dyes.
I noticed recently that my roots are already showing quite significantly, so it was about time that I did a touch up. I went to my local Watson’s and luckily, both Revlon and L’oreal hair dyes are on sale. I’ve used L’oreal for the past couple of years but I’ve never tried those from Revlon. This was probably because they were cheaper or had less color options available. This time though, Revlon had more shades available than L’oreal. It even included extremely blonde ones. Since my hair was already lighter than it normally is, I decided to try out some of Revlon’s blonder shades. I figured that the color would never work on me once I go back to my normal hair hues, so I just took the chance and grabbed a box of Revlon ColorSilk in Dark Ash Blonde.
Product Description:
With Revlon 3D Color Gel Technology, ColorSilk Beautiful Color permanent hair dye delivers natural-looking, multi-tonal color from root to tip. The ammonia-free formula is infused with nourishing silk proteins and leaves your hair soft, silky, and in better condition than before you colored. Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color not only boosts color, but adds definition and dimensionality for hair that looks naturally radiant.
Available in 41 different shades, there’s a perfect Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color shade for you. No matter which hair color you choose, find long-lasting, high-definition color and shine in every box.
Before you dye your hair you: (1) must not wash your hair for at least a day, (2) do a patch test. I learned that the reason for not washing your hair prior to applying hair dyes is so that you have a layer of oil buildup which would protect your scalp from dye chemicals.
1. Mix the colorant and cream color developer and shake well.
2. Before application of the hair dye, smear petroleum jelly (Vaseline) onto your hairline; including the nape of your neck, behind your ears etc to prevent staining.
3. Part your hair into 4 sections. Apply the hair dye evenly starting from the lower sections, working from the root to its ends. For touch ups, only apply the dye on your roots. Use either with a coloring brush or a comb with large gaps between its teeth.
4. Leave the dye on. If it is your first time coloring your hair, leave the hair solution for 25 minutes. For touch-ups, leave the mixture on for 20 minutes. For resistant gray hair, leave on for additional 5 minutes.
5. After the waiting period, rinse hair with warm water until the water runs clear.
6. Apply the nourishing conditioner and leave it on for 2 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
5. After the waiting period, rinse hair with warm water until the water runs clear.
6. Apply the nourishing conditioner and leave it on for 2 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Thoughts:
Revlon ColorSilk is pretty cheap for the price I bought it with. I got it for P295.00. It was on sale though. The regular price is P395.00.
I noticed that Revlon ColorSilk did not have the chemical smell that most home hair dyes are associated with. It smelled so good and did not irritate my sensitive nose.
I love how the dye itself really is multi-dimensional. You can see multiple tones in it. This made it blend better with my current hair color, producing a more natural looking result. The consistency also made it easier to apply and I did not have any trouble with regards to the application.
The CONDITIONER! How can I describe it? Well, they should sell it on it’s own! My hair felt so soft, smooth and shiny after using it. I also love how it smelled like a bouquet of flowers. My hair, however, felt as dry as ever, if not drier, days after coloring.
Results:
This is a before and after picture. My hair did turn out lighter after using Revlon ColorSilk Dark Ash Blonde but it did not achieve the color that was indicated in the box. There was a change but not that dramatic. Home hair dyes never really turn out as they look like in the box so I did expect that already. You should too if you're thinking about using one. If you need a major change in color, home hair dyes are definitely not for you. Save the major change on your next visit to the salon.
My sister kept telling me to develop the roots first, I didn’t listen. Oh well. The result? Still visible roots which are not the same color as the rest of my hair. Overall, I liked how the color turned out, except for my roots though which is definitely 100% on me.
I liked my first experience using Revlon ColorSilk and will consider using one again for future color sessions.
Have you tried this hair color brand before? Do you usually color your hair at home or have it done at the salon?
Note: This post is not sponsored in any way.
Revlon ColorSilk is pretty cheap for the price I bought it with. I got it for P295.00. It was on sale though. The regular price is P395.00.
I noticed that Revlon ColorSilk did not have the chemical smell that most home hair dyes are associated with. It smelled so good and did not irritate my sensitive nose.
I love how the dye itself really is multi-dimensional. You can see multiple tones in it. This made it blend better with my current hair color, producing a more natural looking result. The consistency also made it easier to apply and I did not have any trouble with regards to the application.
The CONDITIONER! How can I describe it? Well, they should sell it on it’s own! My hair felt so soft, smooth and shiny after using it. I also love how it smelled like a bouquet of flowers. My hair, however, felt as dry as ever, if not drier, days after coloring.
Results:
 |
| Before coloring |
 |
| After coloring using Revlon ColorSilk in Dark Ash Blonde |
 |
| After Coloring using Revlon ColorSilk in Dark Ash Blonde |
My sister kept telling me to develop the roots first, I didn’t listen. Oh well. The result? Still visible roots which are not the same color as the rest of my hair. Overall, I liked how the color turned out, except for my roots though which is definitely 100% on me.
I liked my first experience using Revlon ColorSilk and will consider using one again for future color sessions.
Have you tried this hair color brand before? Do you usually color your hair at home or have it done at the salon?
Note: This post is not sponsored in any way.
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