Palawan 2013

O haiiiiiii, Superlovers! I am back! :)

It's been more than a month since I updated my blog. I owe my readers an explanation--Sword and I stayed at my in-laws' place for two weeks for some medical(?) issues. Roddick and Reesha's yaya got chickenpox and Rafael's got HFMD which are both contagious. I brought my laptop with me but we just watched movies non-stop and Globe signal there fails big time. And then a week after we went back home to my parents' place Paolo and I impulsively decided to go to Palawan to visit my grandmom and all our other relatives there. It was also his first time to hit the place, I happily escorted him. Now that I'm back (and trying to finish this entry before Sword wakes up--again!), let me share you our sweet journey: our first ever out of town trip as husband and wife aka our honeymoon. Hahaha I kid, I kid.

As you all know, our Boracay trip last October 2012 was canceled due to my pregnancy... so imagine my excitement to ride the airplane again (zoom, zoom.. broom, broom) and to relax a bit and of course, to spend a quality time with my husband who's very, very busy because of work. Everything's changed since I gave birth to Sword and just like everyone says, being a wife and being a mother are both different roles to fill. I keep on thanking my parents for taking care of our baby while we were out but trust me, half of my heart was left here in Manila. WeChat video call and FaceTime helped but still, I longed to kiss and cuddle our little sailor.

Moving on (intro pa lang napakadaldal ko na)...

It was my first time to go to El Nido despite my numerous trips to Puerto Princesa (PPS) in the past. I never had the chance to travel 5 hours to see the beauty of the island. I missed the beach so much so I insisted to include this little getaway in our short trip. I felt guilty, however, because we left Manila when Maring was devastating the rest of Luzon. It was sunny in Palawan but Mother Nature played its trick on us. Right on time when we were about to start our Tour A, the rain started pouring big time we had to cancel it. So to those who were wondering why I never posted a #selfie wearing two-piece bikini, I am sorry. The beach waves were crazy we didn't bother to go near the shoreline anymore.

But I am so happy to reunite with the sand and the sea sans the sun once again.

Cloudy, eh? Behind me are Seven Commando and Helicopter (mukhang Chickenjoy sa left side) islands.

I missed traveling with him. <3

The rich flora (and fauna) which is Palawan.

On our second day, the clouds became cloudier, heavier. It rained cats and dogs the night before that the sea turned brown. The water from the mountains joined the sea + southwest monsoon + high tide = STILL A BEAUTY.

Mr. Sun finally shone when we were about to leave the island. What is timing dibaaaa

:)

Back to PPS, we headed straight to my lola's house, fetched our cousins and had late dinner at Bona's Chao Long. We also had a few drinks at Kataboom, a resto-bar similar to Boracay's Bom Bom and Pat's Creek Bar--reggae!

It was my first time for a long time to drink beer again. I only limited myself to two bottles, and a glass of mojitos. :D

Cousins! :)

Finally, on our fourth day, we toured Paolo around the city. We went to Crocodile Farm and Mitra's Ranch. Our flight back to Manila was delayed, from 12:55 PM to 6:50 PM due to the non-stop rain in Manila, thus more time was spent with my cousins. Unplanned, we had the entire afternoon chilling at Pristine beach, which is just a few-minute walk from my cousin's house and 10 minutes away from the airport. 

And ladies and gentlemen, a stretch of white sand beach in a city, with an entrance fee of only P20 (P5 when we went here last 2001). Still not bad! 

L-O-V-E-L-Y!

And if you're still wondering why I was not in bikinis, we went here two hours before our boarding time. We didn't swim, we just chilled. Hehe and nako naman, I just gave birth. I still weigh 120 lbs! :( Also to quote my friend Cham, "Pag nagiging nanay tumataas ang panty!" Oh well, yeah, that's my undies showing. Lumuwag po kasi shorts ko. <3 <3 <3

I'm grateful for that 4 days spent with my relatives and my husband. Bringing Sword with us would be perfect but now isn't the right time. Eventually we'll travel with our little sailor! See you again, Palawan, especially you, El Nidowwww!

♥,

Marianne

Summer Girls

The summer never ends (even if it's raining damn hard while I write this post)!

If there's one thing my Girlfriends and I love doing, it's going to the beach. Always and forever. We'll never have a strong bonding like this if we weren't gone to the Philippines' most famous beaches--Boracay, Bohol, Cebu, Palawan, and Pagudpud or spent a day or two in the nearby towns of Batangas, Subic and Potipot Island to get our tans and flaunt our bikini bods. Naks!

In the past, we'd go shopping for straw bags in the same style but different colors to have a little bit of identity as a group. We were also called Ribbon Girls once because we wore the same watches with ribbon straps but of different colors in Boracay. Green for me, pink for Phoebe, purple for Kim, yellow for Cha and more. Eventually, we called ourselves Girlfriends because we all realized that all of us are in a relationship. 

We still have beach trips even after we finish college although some can no longer make it due to work and family. I'm pretty sure you know that three of my friends are now moms and two of them just got married. But we make sure to find time to spend with each other to catch up on things and to make our friendship stronger. 

Just when my friend who's based in Macau went home for a while, we called for a reunion. It's nowhere else but on the beach! Cheenee was not able to attend Maan's wedding and my 24th birthday that's why she promised to spend a weekend with us. We drove our way to Subic, thanks to Paolo, and had a wonderful time together. Sun, sand, sea and a company of good friends! 

Susie, Jovy, Dhana, Phoebe, Cheenee, Cham, Kim, Rachel and I. 

Chammie and Jovy's cousin, Dhana, joined us and made the adventure happier. We wished Maan, Cha and Anne were with us though. It's gonna be the happiest for all of us, surely!

In the nipa while our two boys, Paolo and Mon, were cooking.

From denim shorts to bikinis, I missed this kind of scene:

Ooh la la! <3

Kim was wearing high-waist bikinis because she just gave birth to Nei Nei a couple of months ago. Look how fast she loses weight from pregnancy! Hot! :)

I love your long hair, girl!

Looking at my best friend doesn't seem like she also gave birth to our another little princess, Khara! Phoebe's abs are the abs to die for when you're already a mother!

Woot!

No budget for a new pair of bikinis, I wore my Topshop pinky/hearty ruffled bikinis which I wore to Guimaras last year! :)

I gained weight but kebs!

Making the most out of this trip, we recorded our video while singing and dancing the hottest song of the moment, Call Me Maybe! We have version 1 and version 2 by Mon and Ate Mai respectively. Thanks, guys! 

I think our bikinis reflect our personalities! Can anyone tell? 

Oops, before I forgot! Pleased to introduce the two mighty men who drove and cooked for us. They also took our photos and videos. Hee hee.

Marianne and Kim gone men.

Yaaay I love this photo! 

This is also one of my favorite group pictures. 

I had the chance to take photos with each of my Girlfriends! It might take another long time before we have a repeat of this. 

Phoebe

Kimmie

Cham

Rachel

Susie

Cheenee

Jovy

Of course I never left the island without a photo with my Papao! :)

Uhm, I just realized we're both in pink. 

It was a short day tour but every hour of us together is like our moment together back in college. Nothing's really changed. Sarap sa pakiramdam to be surrounded by happy people! 

Love you, girls!!! :)

This weekend is definitely one for the books! It's amazing how best things happen in a day, regardless of what you've been through in the past. 

Love your friends as you love your life! 

♥,

Marianne

Girlfriends - Call Me Maybe Version 2

My sister who works as a video editor at ABS (haha, yes our companies are direct competitors) made a second version of our Call Me Maybe video.

Yay! Paolo is actually the main cast here. He's the baby in Call Me Maybe.


Video by: Mai Marcial
Please LIKE this video on YouTube and Facebook! :)

♥,

Marianne

Call Me Maybe with Girlfriends

On the last day of June, my friends and I went to Subic for a short beach trip. Cheenee, who's based in Macau, had a short break in the country and joined us.

Remember my plan to record a video for our very own Call Me Maybe version during my birthday which I totally forgot about? We finally made it here in Subic!

Call Me Maybe in bikinissss <3

Video by: Mon Inciong

Paolo looked cute in his own Call Me Maybe stint here! I think we're gonna be making more music videos in the future. Looking forward to have Pia, Kim E. and Doms on our next vids! :)

Share and spread the link and let me know what you think. 

♥,

Marianne

The College Life I Had

Graduation photos all over my Facebook news feed, congratulatory banners from the politicians, job fairs for the newly-grads and more. It's the season of celebration for those who made a triumphant journey: almost sixteen years in school and finally, sleepless nights are over, no more dilemma on strict professors and above all, the smile we'd see on the faces of parents upon seeing their children wearing toga and receiving their precious diploma. Priceless.

I once said this three years ago in my Multiply blog:

Mixed emotions! Totoo pala, akala ko cliche lang. Masaya kasi graduate na, no more homeworks, no more researches, no more feasib and no more OJT! No more terror professors and stupid irregular blockmates. Malungkot kasi hindi mo na sila makikita almost everyday. Yung mga taong tinuring mo na na kapamilya mo. Yung tipong sa araw-araw na lang na ginawa ng Diyos kasama ko si Cha, Phoebe, Kim, Jovy, Anne, Cheenee, Susie and Miles. 

 I waited for Jovy outside, because Marcial and Mariano are forever seatmates, and in less than 20 minutes, she arrived. We got inside first then finally saw Cheenee and Susie. Kim arrived. We wore our togas together, and went to the Breezeway.

I had goosebumps as we walked outside. Seeing familiar faces wearing togas made my heart pound faster. These are the people I used to see wearing the same uniform with mine, the people I shared my lectures with. I realized we'll eventually leave college, and everything will only be a memory.

During our two-hour stay on the assembly area, we took all the time to take pictures together. We captured every moment given to us, until we were asked to fall in line in alphabetical order. It's 4PM. It's officially our graduation.

Let's now take a trip down memory lane. I never thought that such day would come where I'd love to look back and see my younger face together with the people I used to spend my everyday life with.

Days before our much-awaited graduation ceremonies, we had our Baccalaureate Mass where I've seen my classmates wearing dresses inside the classroom. My circle of friends and I kept closer ever than the usual, we were all inseparable.

The FEU Grandstand is a witness to our friendship.

A small portion of our classroom.

Girlfriends: Annie, Susie, Kimmie, Cheenee, Miles, Jovy, Yannie, Phoebe and Chachee. All pronounced with -ie.

The day we officially called ourselves GRADUATES OF 2009, four days after our Baccalaureate Mass:

Here we are wearing our toga with our hair sporting almost the same shade.

Wackies in green!

My feasib/thesis mates: Bianca, Abbie, Mae, Rachelle and Doms. Reunion, please?

 Our entire class: T0541

The feeling got more intense when we went inside the hall, seeing almost a thousand of other students waiting for the moment to get up on stage and receive their diplomas. The ceremony started 4:00 in the afternoon, the perfect time to hear your stomach rumble because it's hours after lunch, hours before dinner and no snack time in between. But in our case, we did not feel any roaring at all. No amount of food can ever fill our grateful souls. Naks!

Also, not to brag about this, but one of the best gifts I've ever received in my whole life is my award as an honor student. My academic story is so precious and I know that this is something my parents will forever treasure and remember. From preschool to grade school to high school, I annually gave my parents a special gift by bringing them up on stage until I made a wide collection of certificates, ribbons and medals. In college, I encountered a lot of hardships--criticisms from professors which I never experienced in basic ed (my teachers from Araneta loved me to bits), disapproved and rejected project proposals--reasons why I decided not to join any extra-curricular activities so I can focus more on academic subjects (again, I joined all organizations and clubs and student council, dancing and theater groups in basic ed except BSP and math club). For the first time, I got a red mark on a quiz I took during our Law class and since then, vying for a Latin award seemed so impossible. Still, I worked hard in school. I worked hard in spending sleepless nights to memorize airport and airline codes, all the wonders of the world, reservation manuals, capital cities, currencies and foreign languages, studied beyond the basics of hotel and restaurant, business management, marketing, event handling and accounting. My college was made of these. 

Yet they say, "No pain, no gain." 

The best I've gained so far.

I still made it!

I will forever keep this piece.

It was surreal. I couldn't believe that after all the hardships I've gone through, I made it. I still made it. For the last time, I made Mom and Dad proud. And Paolo proud. It's sweet how a little sacrifice could eventually turn to a lifetime victory.

My super happy Daddy!

Ghetto, yea?

Three years have passed, I'm still seeing the same people except for the others who flew out of the country to find their career path. Others got married and some has children and most of us are enjoying the fruits of our labor. 

***

This one's for my sister who will finish college in less than a month, and to two of my other cousins, too. I want to congratulate you for conquering school and this may serve this as an inspiration to you and to all the remaining students that you may cherish the days while you're still at it. I often hear rants about how school gets tough. I once ranted, too and prayed for the day to see it all end. I say, appreciate school, it's the foundation of your future. And when you found it, keep it in mind and heart that it may lead you to the road of your success. I'm not telling you that I'm already successful, but considering myself as a part of the company I'm working at is an opportunity. In life, we need these three takes: take chances, take the risk, take one step at a time. Soon you're on your way, and the next thing you know, you're already there. Good luck!

♥,

(Ate) Marianne

First Of Summer: Potipot Island

Unplanned trips are, most of the time, the best! How often do you hear this? Me and my other groups of friends always find a hard time syncing all our busy schedules to go out of town and usually, the plans don't push through. So when you have the chance to go somewhere for the weekend and you've got friends who impulsively say yes to be with you a day before/on the very same day you plan to leave... pack your bags, leave and TREASURE THEM FOREVER. Times like this is definitely one for the books, and I'm pretty sure you're gonna roll! :)

Ever since Susie made Zambales her home extension, we have been planning to visit her and Neil. She never fails to tell us her story on how accessible the beaches are in Iba and have always used her magic spell on us: free accommodation. Neil is about to finish his term at All Asia Aviation Academy so he has free hours to spend with us and tour us around. Kim, Doms and I were honestly not sure if we could join in the fun that's why we just confirmed the trip two days before.

We left Friday evening to enjoy the whole day of Saturday in the beach. Kim brought a friend with her, JJ, so we traveled in even number--Doms, Kim, JJ and yours truly. It only took us 3 1/2 hours to get to Iba (we were told it would take us 5 hours) and how we got there was totally hilarious! Everytime I think about it, I can't help but laugh hard.

POTIPOT ISLAND

It's a choice between Anawangin and Potipot Island. Luckily, Doms has been to these two islands and he recommended Potipot because of its whiter sand (however, we are planning to go back and see Anawangin soon). We got up Saturday morning, around 9, and traveled up north.

From Dawal Beach Resort, you can see right away the beauty and whiteness of Potipot Island. We crossed the see the sea for only five good minutes and paid the boatman P400, round trip.

There you go! Welcome to Potipot Island! I'm very surprised on the whiteness of the island, I never thought it's as white as Panglao's! There's a fee (P100 for a day and P300 for overnight) and unfortunately, we were asked to pay in such a rude way.

Moving on, we had lunch the moment we found the perfect place to keep our things safe and dry and shaded. There are cottages in the island for P500 but there are tables under the tree for free. We all hate extra charges, don't we? So we opted to stay under the tree and besides, we were only staying for a day.

It's really sweet of Susie to prepare lunch for us: shrimp, chicken adobo, salted egg. It's a new her and we won't ask why. Ayeee! :)

That moment when Superloved is super hungry.

I know others are waiting for this: mix and match, bikini pics! Haha! Here it is --

I did not wear anything new. I just wore the top I wore in Bataan last year during Holy Week with its original pair, the purple bikini I used in Puerto Galera and Boracay in 2011. I also wore my see-through bottoms I used in Cebu to cover me up. That's just it, I spent no amount for this trip except for food and transportation.

There goes my belly. :)

Girls: me, Susie and Kimberly.

Plus the captain, Neil.

And the professor, Doms!

Meet JJ too! And here's the only group shot we had. Boo!

To cite Doms, "May area sa Potipot na pang-pictorial." Of course we didn't leave the island without taking photos in that area which Doms was referring to. We loved it! Temptation Island, indeed!

Picture perfect!

I ♥ stolen shots!

And speaking of stolen shots, I'm happy to found out that JJ takes good photos and he took us paparazzi-inspired photos! Some of my favorites are:

 "It pays to check the label."

"Test the water."

"ODK moments."

I just love this photo and made it my profile picture too!

Wanderlust!

While I'm asleep.

We went back to Iba before 6 to get ready for our BBQ party with Neil's "international" friends. But before that, we had a little grocery shopping to buy Magnum (Susie's really an influential person). Other photos were taken using Kim's camera so I've nothing to show you but this:

PAMU!!!

Hopefully, I'd be able to blog about our Subic trip soon. We had a day trip there as well before we officially ended our super short vacation. I want to share you our story about our personalized bus ride, our day in the park somewhere in SBMA, Doms' shopping spree at Freeport Zone and our super fulfilling late lunch at Xtremely Xpresso.

Xtremely Xpresso in Manila, please?

My first of summer is a big blast! Thanks to my pans and my mars for this ODK-worthy weekend! Looking forward to our next summer trips in Anawangin and Pinatubo! :)

♥,
Marianne