Bodyrest Spa

It was a friend's birthday and we decided to treat ourselves to a much needed break and girl time at this new spa we discovered in Gensan...

Bodyrest Spa

 

Pacman's Wild Card Gym

The "Pacman" has always been a national not to mention a local icon here at General Santos city. The Pacquiaos have always invested a lot of their earnings in the city, and one such investment is the opening of the 

Pacman Wild Card Gym.

On the way up to the Wild Card Gym, you will notice the usual fixtures of framed pictures of this highly regarded couple.

Gwapaha Medical Spa. Cosmetic Medical Expertise In One Roof

My first time at Gwapaha Medical Spa, I have to admit I was a little bit intimidated. But the moment I walked in the spa, whatever misconceptions I had was slowly ebbing away as I was assisted by very gracious staff.  

The interiors of the spa also caught my attention since it has a really homey yet elegant feel to it. 

Of course being in the south, the use of the native cloth T'nalak was a nice touch to the interiors of the spa.

Dine Philippines Gensan

Gensan plays host to the national restaurant management conference, DINE PHILIPPINES on February 25, 2013, 1 to 5pm at the SM City Gensan Cinema.

Gala Builders Supply - Our Story

Gala Hardware at Mabuhay Rd. cor Nunez Sts., General Santos City

 Finally! Something to blog about (brag about actually - excuse the pun :) ) ... I've been blogging for almost three years now, raving about other people's business establishments and giving my honest opinion about their place, their food and etc. I've always been a bit shy to talk about our business, much less to blog about it here in Pinay Travelogue. But the time has come that I've finally have something to blog ("brag") about when Gala Builders Supply, our bread and butter, was recognized by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) as a Bronze recipient of its Bagwis Awards 2012. 

The Bagwis Award is awarded to business establishments that adhere to strict consumer laws such as selling only items with PS/ICC marks for products with mandatory standards, having consumer welfare desks and giving quality customer care to clients. The Bagwis Program aims to give due recognition to business establishments, that are compliant with all trade laws implemented by the DTI. Apart from this, it also encourages establishments to participate in government programs to become socially responsible businesses and provide safe and quality products and services to consumers. Consequently, the interests and welfare of consumers are protected and they are guaranteed to get the best value for their money.

The Bagwis Award comes as a surprise for both Mr. OSG and me, since we are not even aware there was a business ethics standards, let alone an awards committee giving recognition to small businesses such as ours. As far as we were concerned, we try our best to conduct our business by being honest to our customers and providing them with the best service our people can offer. It is also a fact that we value our people as partners since they are after all part and parcel in whatever success we attain. We owe it to them for whatever accolades our store gets. (Is this famas speech material or what? hehe)

Gala Builders Supply has come a long way. From one store in Cannery site, Polomolok in the year 2000 when we started, we have now expanded to three stores in all. One in Poblacion, Polomolok and another newly opened in Purok Malakas, Gen. Santos city (photo above). I remember when we started, we only had around 20-30 bags of cement a few hardware materials for sale and P20,000 pesos in revolving capital. At the time we started, Mr. OSG is the designated delivery driver and manager and I was the saleslady and cashier. Our staff at the time is only three heads, when you buy something from them in the morning, they will be the same ones to deliver the orders in the afternoon hehe. We know and embody the meaning of "multi-tasking". You can ask our loyal staff, some of whom are still with us till this day. 

We had humble beginnings, and we have worked hard for more than a decade now, building what Gala Builders Supply is today. Of course, at the end of the day, we still have our own share of headaches and stress but when we look back at what we've accomplished, our business has given us a wonderful learning experience. We still continue to improve and rise up amidst all our mistakes businesswise. The Bagwis Awards is the cherry on top  of the cake and we are so proud to have been recognized. Thank you, this means a lot to us. 

Thailand Chronicles: Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal ...

Elephants! 

Clearly, they are one of God's gentlest creatures. 

They are highly revered by the Thais.

So, we couldn't pass up the chance of an elephant ride over at the 

Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal. 

Ayutthaya, Thailand's former capital, is an hour's drive from Bangkok. It is filled with historical architecture and home to a number of elephants, most of which are friendly as they are used to tourists. 

The Royal Elephant Kraal is one of the worlds oldest elephant kraal which dates back to the 1500s or so as we were told by our mahoot (elephant handler). 

For an Elephant ride around Ayutthaya Historical Park, be prepared to shell out 100 - 500 Baht depending on the route. Photos if taken by their official photographer is quite pricey at about 100-150 baht and up. But our mahoot was kind enough to ask a fellow mahoot to take our photo on the elephant using our camera (although we were  getting worried of him running away with our camera tee-hee!!) for a measly tip of 20 baht. :) 

This particular Elephant ride was included in the Ayutthaya tour. For more details on the Ayutthaya tour, be prepared to shell out 1,900 baht for a whole day tour including air conditioned coaches, tour guide, buffet lunch at a hotel and mineral waters and refreshing towels after every stop. :) or check out my other blogpost on the tour here.

For inquiries, contact World Travel Service Ltd at tel (662) 2335900-9 or email them at: kusa@mozart.inet.co.th or visit their website here.

VINTAGE: A Manny Librodo Workshop

Photo enthusiasts and hobbyists from General Santos City and other cities around Mindanao have converged once more for the GenSan leg of photography workshops given by world renowned and Bangkok based Filipino photographer, Mr. Manny Librodo.

Photo courtesy of Mr. Ronald Rivera

For the first day of the workshop, they had the privilege of having a photo shoot with one of the country's most photographed faces, the very versatile Ms. Kharunisia Jazmin. This lovely lass is a talented young lady who does her own styling and concepts, and is a very competent hair and make-up artist.

The 1st two sets of the photo shoot was shot on location at the Manilay Ancestral House in General Santos city. One of the first of its kind in GenSan housing a variety of antiques and vintage artifacts that the participants had a myriad of picture perfect possibilities to choose from. 

The third set of the photoshoot was shot at Mt. Sabrina, which was supposed to be a sunset shoot but the elusive sun decided not to show herself in this shoot. But still, the photos were still exquisite. 

This Manny Librodo workshop themed: Vintage was organized by Prism Events 

in coordination with the Gensan Camera Club.

Special thanks to Mr. Warren Manilay for allowing us to use the Manilay Ancestral House as well as Mr. Orman Manansala for sourcing out our male model for this workshop.
Thanks also to the following gentlemen who acted as assistants in this workshop: Omar Gallinero, Bong Maliwat, Ronald Rivera, Don Pagunsan and Ybrael Abergas.

For more information on future Manny Librodo workshops in Gen. Santos city, you can check out the facebook page of Prism Events here. Thank you to Sir Manny for letting us use his photos for this blog post. 

Thailand Chronicles: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

It was my first time to be at a floating market. So you can just imagine my excitement when it was final that we were going on the Floating Market Tour and have a 30-45 minute boat ride to the famous ...

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

in Ratchaburi, Thailand. 

It is one of the most famously known floating markets, and a major tourist destination in Thailand.

Our guide keeps on stressing that the market has been around for decades. And riding on the small boat, I thought.. "boy.. she sure wasn't kidding!". On the way to the market, there were inhabitants on the sides of the man-made canals which were there probably for years and years. And I think we passed by a huge pipe or two which was literally connected to a Thai house's restroom!  I almost had a heart attack when the water on the stream was literally splashing on our faces. Talk about a real adventure. hehe.

Of course, I was just trying to be sarcastic about the polluted water. But the trip going to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, was like a trip back in history. It was as if I was living in the era where rivers were part of the main thoroughfares of this culture rich country. Most of the houses we passed by have their own boats so it means that in this part of Thailand, most of them still use the streams if only for the benefit of tourists since the floating market is a major tourist destination in Thailand. So it was obvious that most of the people living there mainly benefit from tourists frequenting the area.

At the floating market, the merchants are literally selling their wares in boats. There were fruits of every kind, food and snacks like traditional Thai rice cakes, and souvenirs for every avid tourist. 

A True Blue South Cotabateño

Its been more than a decade since I’ve moved here in South Cotabato. So the question of whether I am now eligible to be called a true South Cotabateño still remains to be answered. To most of you who are from this beautiful province, but are scattered all across the globe in search of greener pastures, let me tell you what I loved about your province, this often misunderstood part of Mindanao and why I came to love living here. Then maybe you can decide for yourselves whether or not I am worthy of being called a true blue South Cotabatenean.

Pictures courtesy of our official lensman: Mr. Omar S. Gallinero :) Taken from his collection of photos. 

1. The T’boli Tribe. What I love about this tribe is their adeptness in preserving their culture despite the modern times. Their culture has been shared to tourists and guests all around South Cotabato. I think the region should thank them for sharing their culture with us and hoping that they get to preserve it for years to come so our children can also enjoy the richness of their way of life. To get a taste of their culture, you can read about some of them in this post here.

2. T’nalak fabric. Although most would not classify it as a fabric or cloth, due to its course texture, the T’nalak fabric is highly revered in the T’boli tribe. This cloth is part of every T’boli’s culture and way of life. You can say that it is similar to the importance the Scottish people give to their kilts. The T’bolis consider the T’nalak part and parcel of every significant event in their life such as in birth, marriage or even in death. And it is in this deep veneration for the T’nalak that South Cotabato adapted it to symbolize the richness of the region’s culture.

3. T’nalak Festival. Aptly called since it holds the T’nalak fabric in high esteem. This festival is a tribute to the T’boli tribes, the first settlers in South Cotabato. I love that this festival showcases T’nalak in a variety of forms, there even has a fashion show using the fabric in modern, hip designs. The street dancing alone is a fun-filled event celebrating the South Cotabatenean’s veneration for the T’nalak and the T’bolis of South Cotabato. 

4. Lake Sebu. Oftentimes referred to as the summer capital of the southern Philippines. What I love about Lake Sebu besides its cool climate is the tranquil view of the lake. We always bring guests from Manila here.

5. Seven falls. Needless to say, the 7 falls is a true gem. I mean, who ever comes across not one or two but seven (!) falls in one place, right? At first, even before I set my eyes on them it sounded crazy… I mean seven falls? :) But then I know most of first time tourists will be in awe of the beauty of these falls. It is nature’s hand at its finest. I do recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes for first time guests. Read more about the seven falls here.

6. The Majestic Mt. Matutum. Of course I couldn’t fail to mention this resplendent mountain towering over all of us in South Cotabato. Despite the qualms that this is a dormant volcano… Mt. Matutum gives the people of South Cotabato a reason for its fertile lands. I don’t know maybe once upon a time it erupted, but the fertile soil surrounding it continues to give farmers a bountiful harvest all year. During the summer months, I was told that it is also an exhilarating feeling to climb the summits of this revered mountain, but I have yet to see this for myself. :) In plane rides over the region, you just know you are in South Cotabato once Mt. Matutum comes into view in your airplane windows. 

7. Kape Alamid. or otherwise known as Civet Coffee. I've been a coffee lover for how many years now, and I just can't find another coffee to equal the robustness of the civet coffee harvested from the coffee trees in Mt. Matutum. Let's just not discuss where the coffee bean actually passes through that gives it that delectable taste. But this makes it to my list of  top 15. :)

photo courtesy of  http://www.telegraph.co.uk

 


8. Pineapples. This is the fruit of life for the South Cotabatenean. Many of the people here breathe (as in literally :) ) and have livelihood thanks to this fruit. I vouch for the truth that the South Cotabatenean - grown pineapple is the sweetest in all the world. 

9. Dolefil. Call me biased or what, but living in Polomolok, South Cotabato, Dolefil has always been an integral part of my everyday existence. My prejudice comes from the fact that most of the people here have a dependable livelihood (well probably me included) because of the existence of this multinational fruit company. And… Polomolok will not be world famous for it’s sweet tasting pineapples if not for Dole Phils. So excuse my being blunt in including them in my top 15 list of favorites. :)

 

10. Kalsangi. Of course Dolefil’s Club Kalsangi also made the cut to my list. Where else can you find a top of the class residential area comparable to Baguio’s Camp John Hay or Clark field’s loghouses other than at Kalsangi? It Is worth mentioning since our country’s leaders such as President Ramos, President Erap, even the late President Marcos and President Cory have all spent the day or night within its boundaries. Its streets are all lined with big acacia and macademia trees. It even boasts of a 9-hole golf course which is one of the best and well maintained in Mindanao. To read more about Club Kalsangi, click here. 

11. Polomolok Sunsets. Living in Polomolok, I’ve come to love my Polomolok sunsets. It’s a rare treat for someone like me from the Metro waking up to a glorious sunrise and ending the day with a breathtaking sunsets. It is only in these parts of Mindanao where we rarely experience monsoon rains or typhoons for days at a row so the sun gets to shine its rays all throughout the region. More pictures on my Polomolok sunsets here.

12.Ukay – ukay. South Cotabato of course is also famous for its “ukay-ukay” or to literally “dig” hordes of used clothes and what have yous for a bargain. I wouldn’t forget the bargaining prowess I picked up in these flea markets. 

13. Fresh food. The standard of living here is not high compared to highly urbanized regions. There is an abundance of fresh vegetables and fruits, plentiful seafood, poultry and meat. It is an adage here that when you live in South Cotabato, you will never go hungry since most of the country’s food come from here. The biggest piggery can be found at Koronadal city. There are also a number of cattle raisers and poultry farms. Not to mention vegetables and fruit farms dotting the entire region. So if you are from Manila, some of your food comes from here. We can literally have steak and vegetable sidings each day here if we wish without burning a hole in our pockets. 

14. South Cotabatenean Charm and Hospitality. Part of the wealth of any place comes from its people. Guests can be prepared to be welcomed warmly in this parts of the island. South Cotabateneans know how to treat guests amiably. 

15. Peaceful living. These parts of the island, I am proud to note that people here live peacefully. There are no Muslim-Christian conflicts here. Nor are there an abundance of street thugs or pickpockets for that matter. Maybe it is one of the reasons why many people have come to relocate in South Cotabato (well me included :)).

“This is my submission for the T'nalak Festival 2012 Blog Writing Contest, which is made possible with the support of sponsors such as Hon. Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr and the province of South Cotabato, Sun Cellular - get two days of unlimited text to all networks for only ₱15 with SUN TEXTALL15, Dole Philippines, Representative Teddy Casiño & Bayan Muna Party-List,  KCC Malls, SouthCotabato.Org and South Cotabato News.”

Thailand Chronicles: Madame Tussauds Bangkok

Madame Tussauds in Bangkok was  on our list of  must-see places in the city of Angels. And we were not disappointed in the number of notable wax figures that took our breath away as  the figures in display was really life-like in quality, take for example the wax figure of Princess Di at the left. 

At first, Mr. OSG and I were even scared to look let alone pose next to the wax figures since they were literally like the real thing frozen in time to gaze at the amused spectators such as ourselves. Even the facial hairs were visible and the eyes... well.... looking at them makes you feel as if at any moment, you might see them blink. hehe.. talk about being eerie at first. They were carbon copied even to the last wrinkle. 

Our fascination with each of the famous people on display here were so great, it took us hours to complete touring the entire area. 

Of course, I wanted a photo-ops with each one including Mr. Einstein here who really looks like he was about to teach me a thing or two about his famous equation and share his knowledge of the universe with me. 

It was also a wonderful experience pretending to be royalty next to England's most revered monarch standing next to my throne. I forgot to mention that at some of the stops, there are costumes and accessories beside the wax figures, so we just helped ourselves to them so our photo-ops seem right off a magazine page.

Even Mr. OSG had his moment posing as... I was supposed to say one of the Asian presidents and prime ministers but really, he was posing more like a wax figure himself. :)

I would never forget having the chance to sit (well stand to be precise and act as Mr President's secretary here) inside the Oval office. God only knows if I will ever really have the chance in my lifetime to see the "actual Oval office" so we didn't let this chance slip by.

Below is a picture of Madame Tussaud herself working on a wax figure of Mr. OSG. :) Wouldn't you say the likeness is uncanny? hehe

Madame Tussauds is located at the Siam Discovery, 6th Floor, 989 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok.

They are open daily from 10am to 9pm. Last admission is at 8pm.  During peak season the attraction usually stays open later or open earlier as needed. But they advise visitors to call ahead for updated operating times.

Admissions is 800 baht for adults and 600 baht for senior citizens/child. 

Insider tip for you: check in advance the ticket price so you don't go paying for more since we got our tickets for only 650baht at the Siam Paragon ticket stand. What can I say, haggling in Thailand is a way of life. :) so haggle away.

You can check out their website here. 

Paraiso Verde Resort and Water Park - RELOADED

The Wiggles Kiddie Pool

I just came back from one of the prime water parks in this side of South Cotabato. I don’t usually blog about a certain place more than twice but this place calls for another round of commendations. Excuse my title “reloaded” for lack of a better word. J But since my last visit at the resort, me and my family had the pleasure of being treated yet again to a wonderful experience at Paraiso Verde Resort. Oh and if you’ve missed my first post about this water park… you can check it out here.

After attending the christening of Mr. OSG’s newest godson, we decided to bring swimming gears and bathing suits since the reception was held at the Maya Pavilion of Paraiso Verde Resort. And it was a really good decision since as soon as we arrived at the resort’s parking lot, someone was eager enough to dive off the pool. You guessed wrong, it wasn’t my little girl but it was me. Hehe. 

The Maya Pavilion is an open marquee which can accommodate up to 200 guests inside an area of about 300 square meters. The perfect venue for your swimming parties or company outings. If you would like to have your wedding reception here, my suggestion is to do it around dinner time since the sun can be scorching hot at midday. But don’t fret since the owners are thinking about enclosing the entire gazebo in glass so that they can have it air-conditioned! Now that’s something we would surely look forward to in the near future! J

Photo courtesy of  their website 

The resort hasn’t changed much since our last visit. Its facilities are well maintained. The numerous pools still gets the “oohs” and “aaahs” from its guests especially in the 2-16 year old category! – correction even the lolos and lolas are having fun in the resort.

Operating Hours:  The resort is open between 9AM till 5:30PM during weekdays and 9AM to 7PM during weekends and holidays.  They open daily except Tuesdays or Wednesdays (depending on whether Tuesday falls on a holiday). They reserve these day  for their  weekly maintenance. 

Entrance Fees. For guests 4ft tall and above be prepared to shell out P250. Kids 2ft -4ft tall can come inside the resort for FREE (but don’t tell this to the kids since they might sneek in at the resort after school.. hehe – kiddin!)

Rates. Common tent P200 – P400; Open air Cabanas – P600; Airconditioned Cabanas P1,200 (with own comfort rooms)

Lemlunay Fever

For the snorkeling and diving enthusiasts, Lemlunay Resort never fails to impress...

It was my first time at this picturesque resort I have heard so much about. And clearly, it doesn't disappoint as the magnificent view of the Sarangani Bay and the neighboring towns of Glan even Balut Island can be seen from the Tinoto Wall or the cliff that is Lemlunay.

You will never have an idle time at this resort since they have a myriad of activities available for their guests. If you don't  feel like snorkeling or diving, you can rent their Hobie Cat for a measly P1500 for a maximum of 6 passengers for 30 mins. Just make sure though that the wind is strong so you don't accidentally just float in the water with no direction :)

For those who just want to chillax and wade in the water with the kids, you can enjoy their infinity pool. It has a magnificent view of the bay and a wonderful spot for day dreaming (well, at least for me). 

Their Poolside Cabins are perfect for families of four which you can rent for P3,000. What's good about it is, the rate includes breakfast for two. 

The rooms inside the Poolside Cabins have two double bed, so if you are there with friends or with the kids, four people can sleep comfortably. Or for the fifth wheel in the group, you can opt to rent additional mattress at P200/each. :)

The Garden View Cabins (picture below) which is good for two persons will set you back for P1,200 and the Ocean View Cabins (sorry.. didnt get a chance to take photos) costs P2,500 per night. all includes breakfast for two. 

moi.. :)

Lemlunay Diving Resort is a paradise located at the edge of Tinoto Reef at Barangay Kamanga, Maasim, Sarangani Province. For more info, you can visit their website at www.lemlunayresort.com or call them at 083 228 1704 or text them at 0928 5244528.