My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 30)

Free International Tickets from PAL

Boeing 777-300ER on order

Philippine Airlines (PAL) once again rolled-off its FLY ASIA ALL YOU CAN promotion.

Buy one roundtrip domestic business class ticket and get one free roundtrip economy ticket on any of the following Asian routes:

Manila - Bangkok - Manila
Manila - Chengdu - Manila
Manila - Chongqing - Manila
Manila - Hong Kong - Manila
Manila - Jakarta - Manila
Manila - Macau - Manila
Manila - Saigon - Manila
Manila - Singapore - Manila
Manila - Taipei - Manila
Manila - Xiamen - Manila

The promotion is valid for sale and ticketing from March 28 to April 11 and for travel effective June 15 until October 15.

Promo applies to PAL services only. Flights operated by Air Philippines under code share agreement are not included.

For bookings and more information, call PAL Reservations in Manila: (02) 855-8888, Cebu: (032) 340-0191, Davao: (082) 222-0366 or your local travel agent.

Conditions for travel:

• Payment and ticketing restricted in the Philippines
• Bookings on both the Domestic and International sectors must be confirmed prior to issuance of ticket
• Travel should be between 15 June 2008 to 15 October 2008
• The free international ticket cannot be assigned to another passenger other than the holder of the domestic ticket. Both tickets are non-endorsable even in case of flight disruptions
• Rebooking is PHP300 /per transaction for domestic ticket
• Rebooking is USD50 /per transaction for international ticket
• Both tickets are valid for travel until 15 October 2008 only. Travel must be completed by 15 October 2008
• International ticket is valid only 8 days from commencement of travel
• Both domestic and international tickets are NON-REFUNDABLE
• Seats are limited on these fares
• Exclusive of taxes, fees, and surcharges
• Other travel conditions apply

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 29)

Advance Happy Easter!... I'm Off to Cagayan Valley

I'm thankful that I live in a Catholic country so today is the last day of the workweek :) I love the Lenten break because it is the time when the population of Metro Manila nearly goes down more than 50% as throngs of families, couples and individuals head for the provinces or abroad. Everybody is in vacation mode. As for me and the rest of my 20+ Manila-based relatives, it would be a family reunion in the small town of Angadanan, Isabela.

I'm schooled throughout my student life in a Catholic school and a Catholic university so it is in my blood that I know that this season is a time of reflection and giving thanks to Jesus Christ for what he has done for the whole humankind. I'm glad that eventhough our family is on vacation we never forget to pass by churches for the traditional "visita iglesia" and hear mass during the Holy Week.

To all my Christian readers: Have a meaningful Holy Week and advance Happy Easter.

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 28)

Panglao... the Rainbow's End

I have no idea that one will find the end of the rainbow in the paradise island of Panglao in Bohol. If you don't believe me, here is my proof...

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 27)

Magazine Covers featuring meeeeeee!!!

You could create your own magazine covers at www.magmypic.com

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 26)

The Need for Speed

53 words

Speed test

Found this at Jenlex's blog and it seemed interesting. I had a typing lesson several years ago and I can't remember my grade anymore :) I think 53 words per minute is decent enough. At least I'm accurate.

Here's the breakdown of my grade:
You type 290 characters per minute
You have 53 correct words and
you have 0 wrong words

I now tag Janice, Kaye, Che and Punditocracy. It pays for a blogger to type fast, agree? :)

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog ( Week 25)

I'm off to Iligan and Camiguin... I'll be Back in a Jiffy!

White Island overlooking the main island of Camiguin

I love long weekends! Because of this I'll be going to my favorite province, Camiguin, and to Iligan, the City of Majestic Waterfalls. This would be my 2nd time in Camiguin but 1st time in Iligan so I'm very excited.

My only regret in this upcoming trip is that I booked our Cagayan de Oro (CDO) tickets via Air Philippines (Air Phil) with their 30 something year-old Boeing 737-200 aircraft. I don't know what came to me to even consider buying an Air Phil ticket. In the first place Air Phil does not offer the very much sought after convenience of online booking of tickets so you have to buy your ticket at their offices or travel agents. Nowadays, I want to know if there's a travel agency which does not charge an additional 100 pesos (service fee) for each ticket per sector for domestic travel.

I don't know but I think in terms of aircraft age Air Philippines owns the most "senior" among Philippines-based jet aircraft. On another negative note, as compared with Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines, the timing of Air Phil's CDO flight is not good for leisure travelers who wants an early morning flight in and late afternoon flight out.

To make the long story story short... lesson learned. So next time I'll be going to Cagayan de Oro I'll see to it that I'll book a ticket with an airline operating a new, more environment friendly, good smelling airplanes.

The 33rd International Bamboo Organ Festival

As a resident of Las Pinas City, I invite everyone to visit my hometown starting tomorrow, February 21 up to February 29 for the 33rd edition of the International Bamboo Organ Festival.

Thursday, Feb. 21 - GALA

Misa de Sales (1826), from Iglesia de Baclayon, Bohol - Las Pinas Boys Choir with Bamboo organ

Bach Cantata no. 82 – Noel Azcona, solo baritone, with Festival Orchestra conducted by Chino Toledo

Handel – Organ Concert op. 4 #2 – Festival Orchestra with Ghislain Leroy ( France)

Friday, Feb. 22 -AN EVENING OF ORGAN MUSIC

Full program of organ music on Bamboo Organ and Auditorium organ by Ghislain Leroy ( France)

Saturday, Feb. 23 - In Concert: Las Piñas Boys Choir

Sunday, Feb. 24 - CONCERT UNDER THE TREES

Monday, Feb. 25 - ORGAN AND VOICES

Concerto for two organs with Armando Salarza and Rea Lodronio

Misa de Sales (1826), from Iglesia de Baclayon, Bohol - Las Pinas Boys Choir with Bamboo organ

Bach Cantata no. 82 – Noel Azcona, solo baritone, with Festival Orchestra conducted by Chino Toledo

Wednesday and Friday, Feb. 27 and 29 MISA DI GLORIA

Ticket prices: P600, P400, P200

Please call 510-3839 for more information

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog ( Week 24)

Capiz & Iloilo for 33 Hours

This weekend would not be an ordinary one, well at least for me eventhough it is not a long weekend I am scheduled to go to Iloilo as it is the 86th birthday of my grandfather. I didn't file a vacation leave so this will be just a Saturday-Sunday affair. I will be the last one to arrive yet be the first one to leave the next day as my mom, dad and sister will stay there for 2 more days (It sounds that I'm a workaholic, but I doubt it). My relatives from the U.S. and here in Manila will all be there so I have no reason not to attend because Manila is closer than the U.S. from Iloilo, hehehe :)

I'm feeling adventurous so I didn't bought a direct Manila-Iloilo-Manila ticket. Alternatively, I booked a flight to Roxas City, Capiz via Philippine Airlines which will leave 5:30 am tomorrow. It would just be a 1 hour flight so I expect to be out of the airport before 6:00 am. Roxas City is dubbed as the "Seafood Capital of the Philippines" but I don't expect to eat seafood that early in the morning. It will be my 4th or 5th time to visit Roxas City so I don't anymore plan to go sightseeing. I just plan to have my breakfast in a local restaurant and I will be off to my father's town in Dingle, Iloilo for a good 2 hrs. van/bus ride.

If I only book a direct Manila-Iloilo ticket I'll expect somebody to fetch me at the Iloilo Airport. I specifically directed my dad not to fetch me anymore because he doesn't know that I will be coming from Capiz.

The party for my grandfather will be in the afternoon so I have time to spare for my Capiz-Iloilo solo roadtrip. It is also time for meeting distant relatives for the first time. I expect that it would be a fiesta-scale of people attending from the afternoon 'til the evening as I heard that they ordered two lechon baboy. It would not be an ordinary party as what my tita told me because she ordered 100 sets of invitation and giveaways here in Manila.

My return flight would be at 5:20 pm the next day via Philippine Airlines also but this this I will be more practical so I will be departing from Iloilo. I don't know if I still have the time to go to Iloilo City to buy pasalubong for my friends and officemates.

Travel Tour Expo 2008

Calling all fellow travelers!

The 15th edition of the Travel Tour Expo being organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) will be held at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City from Feb. 15 to 17, 2008. It will be the biggest event for the travel and tourism industry here in the Philippines this year. There will be over 150 participating companies which include airlines, hotels, foreign tourist organizations, resorts and of course tour operators occupying more than 300 booths.

Exhibition Hours:

15 February - Friday
10 AM - 8 PM

16 February - Saturday
10 AM - 9 PM

17 February - Sunday
10 AM - 8 PM

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 23)

Tips for Domestic Travel and Beyond

Eventough that major domestic airlines offer PISO or EIGHT pesos fare this time of the traveling season you can also make your travels cheaper without availing of the PISO fare. Because of deregulation and competition, air travel became cheaper today than in 10 or even 5 years ago and it could get cheaper if only the price of petroleum products (particularly jet fuel) will be much stable.

* To start with, budgeting and finding a cheap hotel or restaurant will not help so much if the destination itself is expensive. Here's my point: I love Camiguin not only because of its beaches, waterfalls, hot springs, cold springs and 7 volcanoes but because it is cheaper to travel or even live there than to go to Boracay which has only a beach to offer.

* The Internet contains gazillion of information about the place where you plan to spend your vacation from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi so it pays to google first your destination before trying to make any reservation for hotels, transportation arrangements and organized tours.

* The best website I think there is for those who seek everything under the sun about travel is www.virtualtourist.com. I enjoy reading everything it says on a particular destination I am interested in and one can even ask as question in the member's forum. TripAdvisor.com is another great site to view reviews of hotels, restaurants and tourist spots.

* When you have a contact in that particular destination be it a hotel reservation clerk, a van-for-hire agent or whatever, don't be afraid to ask for DISCOUNTS as they are available throughout the year even for peak season.

* If you still don't have an air ticket, you may find cheaper tickets during weekdays rather than flying on a Saturday or Sunday. Usually, the roundtrip discount don't apply to domestic airline tickets so try to check all the airlines if they offer a cheaper fare on your way to your destination or your return flight. It is common for me to have a different airline on the way back to Manila because of lower fare or better flight schedule.

* If you find information which the Internet offers not sufficient, you can request for a free visitor's guide or brochure from the local or regional tourism office of your destination. Maps and travel books are expensive and there's no need to bring those bulky Lonely Planet guides when you can print maps and information you need.

* When time is not an issue, it's always cheaper to travel off-season as the price of everything travel related significantly drops. And besides, the promotional fare of airlines are always timed during the off-season. I found out that September is the best time to visit Boracay if you hate crowds obstructing your view of the beach. Locals even dubbed September as the "little summer" as the weather is good during that time. Anytime of the year is the best time if you want to go to any Mindanao destinations as that region is always not on the path of typhoons.

Remember, the later you wait to do your planning for that well deserved vacation, the more you will likely to pay for it so it PAYS to plan early.

HAPPY TRAVELING!

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog ( Week 22)

Aquadog of Panglao

Got these photos of a cute and friendly dog in Panglao Island, Bohol. Upon reaching the beach at about 6:30 am he was already there doing his daily routine frolicking under the morning sun and minding his own business. He is so much comfortable in the water that he swam longer than any of us at the beach. He belongs to one of the posh resorts in Panglao. A rainbow in the background adds drama to the pictures, right?

staring at something... look at his sandy nose :)

standing for a pose

There he goes chasing the rainbow

My Wordless Monday Picture Blog (Week 21)

Survey

Got this tag from rich of myfavehangout...

1. Have you found the one you wanna spend your whole life with?

I can't tell yet

2. Are you happy with your life right now?

Pretty much

3. Do you think there’s still a chance for past lovers to get back together?

Why not

4. How did you spend your Christmas last year?

Just with my family

5. What are you looking forward to next week?

I'll be off somewhere...

6. Closest Sibling?

No choice... I only have 1

7. Last person who texted you?

Bianx

8. Last person you texted?

Bianx

9. When was the last time you smiled?

32 minutes ago

10. Why?

Bianx is teasing me

11. What do you hate most about school?

Assignments

12. Mcdo or Jollibee?

Jollibee, I love their stapegi :)

13. Name one insect you hate most?

Mosquitoes

14. Still close to any of your ex(s)?

Hahaha!

15. Would you kiss the last person who kissed you?

Of course

16. If you were in the mall, where would you probably go?

A fastfood!

17. Do you think there such thing as Fate?

Don't know but I hope there is

18. You spend most of your Friday Night with?

Friends... Gimick time!

19. What were you doing an hour ago?

Surfing the net

20. If you could have a special power what would it be?

The power to fly so I can visit many places without waiting for promo fares, hehehe :)

21. Do you know your bestfriend’s crush (es) ?

Yiz

22. Do you agree that usually the second child are the troublemakers?

I hope they are coz I'm the firstborn

23. Do you like guys / girls with dimples?

Yup

24. Honestly, do you think you tall?

I think so, I'm taller compared with most of my friends

25. Any hidden talents?

I prefer just to hide it ;)

26. Who’s making you mad?

Anyone can if I have the reason to get mad

27. Why?

I can't enumerate all the reasons

28. Do you like her / him?

I don't know the relevance of this question... Is this question connected with the 2 previous questions?

29. Last one, cigarettes or drugs?

Food

Now it's my time to tag punditocracy, opinionated banana, janice and jana :)