12 Memorable Things I (We) Did During Our Hometown Vacation

The last time I went home to my hometown Zamboanga City was on July 2013. It was not a vacation, but a work related travel. I was pregnant then and had to stay most of the time at the checked-in hotel before and after our meeting.

This year, I have planned (which hubby agreed) and made use of the long weekend on August 28 – 31, 2015 to visit my brothers and their families in ZC, my parents grave and also attended for the first time the ZCHS Main 70^th Alumni Homecoming.

Sunset at the Highway of Zamboanga City

August 28, 2015  (A proclaimed holiday here in Cagayan de Oro City to celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine), together with hubby, the two kids and the two Yayas, we left as early as 5:30AM (the earliest we can), trying our best to arrive in Zamboanga City before 5PM so that I can catch up with the ZCHS Main Torch Parade. In spite of having only a few minute stopover in Iligan City and Pagadian City to buy our takeout meals from Jolibee, we still arrived at past 5PM. An approximately 12 hours travel defensively, running at 60-80kph, plus the road repairs and traffics along the way. 

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2015 Summer Fun @ Midway White Beach Resort

Friends are truly friends, even with the distance. As much as possible, we wanted to bond when time allows us, and that’s what had happened on April 10 & 11, 2015. One of our friends who’s currently working in Cebu City came home for his son’s college graduation, and because of his one week vacation in Iligan City, we managed to set-up a get together after many years of no summer outing. The rest of the gang together with their families and us the whole family (coming from Cagayan de Oro) met halfway at Midway White Beach Resort at Initao, Misamis Oriental.

We arrived at the Resort on Friday around 7:30-8:00 in the evening. Each one of us has commitments at the early time of the day and those commitments should be done before the much awaited vacation, for us to fully enjoy our time minus all the work and worries for the time being. It was a simple gathering, for the whole barkada but sadly, the three of them, which we hoped to join us, had other commitments. 

By the time we arrived the food was already set-up, the roasted pig “lechon baboy” that never miss the list was already waiting for us to devour. At 3k budget, Nyc was able to get about 20kg whole lechon for us, an ideal size with enough leftovers for the lechon paksiw the following day. 

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First Family Vacation 2013: Manila Ocean Park - Oceanarium

Why I chose Metro Manila as our first destination this year’s Vacation, was because I want my little boy to see the fishes, the water creatures + the birds. Manila Ocean Park is the best place to see them up close here in the Philippines.

We arrived at Metro Manila on January 24, 2013 around 10AM, checked-in at Tune Hotels and in the afternoon off we went to Manila Ocean Park. We arrived there a round 4PM too late to watch the Sea Lion Show so we availed only the Oceanarium + Musical Fountain Show package at P500.00 + P150 for the Kingdom of Prey experience.

Our First Stop was the Kingdom of Prey (I’ll make a separate post for this one soon), then the Oceanarium and these are the photos that we’re able to take. But unfortunately most were dark because flash photography is not allowed. Nevertheless, the photos are still passable.

A family picture at the well known MOP sign at the entrance.

Father and Son at the Oceanarium entrance. Hubby posing while Xye looking somewhere.

 Some big fresh water fishes.

Some fishes of the sea..

chambered nautilus

lion fish

 

 posing with the Giant Trevallies at the back..

And a family pose at the Asia's largest walk through underwater tunnel.

Manila Ocean Park is indeed a friendly place for adults and kids. We are lucky to have this one of a kind water attraction in our country.

Water World Wednesday

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First Family Vacation 2013: Flying for the First Time

This year I chose to celebrate my birthday with the two most important men in the world, my husband and our son, not in Cagayan de Oro City but in Metro Manila. Actually, I booked our round trip flights to Manila and back in September last year when Cebu Pacific had their Piso Fare. Thanks to budget airlines for the promo, the only irony with promo tickets is that they are non-refundable and non rebookable. Hubby and I have wasted two international promo tickets before. I was pregnant then and cannot travel back then. 

I thought our tickets will go to waste again, because our little one had high fever because of swollen gums 3 days before our flight. Thankfully on the 3^rd day Xye had recovered and was energetic again and ready to take his first plane ride the following day.

We boarded Cebu Pacific 8:40 AM flight from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila. I took the window seat, Xye in the middle and hubby by the aisle, also with us our best friend Jefer and his sister Ina.

 

The little one preferred to sit on my lap and peeped out the window. I think he enjoyed watching the clouds outside, but later on he went to play in his dreamland because he fell asleep and woke up when we landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

 

 

Xye first flying experience was fun, I think. I do not know if he’ll remember the experience when he grow up. Thanks to technology at least he’ll be able to see these pictures in the future.

P.S. Photos in this post were taken by my husband.

Monday Mellow Yellows

Blue Monday

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