To the Beach! (Montemar Beach Club)

Finally! Ariel happened to me. Natapos ko rin sa wakas lahat ng 2015 posts ko. And finally a post that actually happened in 2016. Apir!

I thought I would just be spending my Christmas vacation here in Japan but then something happened. I suddenly booked a roundtrip flight to Philippines. Suddenly talaga? Hindi ko kaya na hindi umuwi ng Pinas ng Christmas vacay! Arte lang. Kahit ganito ako e kino-consider ko naman ang work ko when I'm making vacation plans. Ang definite sa work sched namin e we have a deadline on December 25.  And after that clear na and mayroong holidays dito sa Japan since it's New Year.

Bandang 1st or 2nd week of November ay tinignan ko ang website ng PAL and checked kung may magandang schedule na may magandang presyo. We all know that airfares go sky high during the holidays. Nung may nakita akong pasok sa banga e boom! Book na kaagad. Tsaka ako nagpaalam dito sa office haha. I know, I know I should have asked if they will allow me but by the time malamang na sabihin nilang OK akong magbakasyon e kailangan ko ng umiyak ng dugo sa presyo ng mga tickets. Actually nung nagpaalam ako e ang sagot ba naman 'We'll check first the work schedule.". Ay sorry naka-book na ako. Walang makakapigil sakin. Haha! Pero seriously speaking/typing, wala naman naging problem talaga kasi tama naman yung pagkaka-schedule ko ng bakasyon ko na ibinase ko naman sa existing work sched namin. Ayos di ba?

Yun nga lang medyo may nakakairita lang na nangyari. So nagbook ako from Jan.1-11. Tapos mga last week ng November, we were informed that Dec. 30 and 31 are company holidays. Naisip ko kagad na i-rebook yung outbound flight ko. Then nakita ko sa fare rules ng aking itinerary na inbound flight lang pede ko i-rebook. Anakngteteng.  Ay gusto kong tumambling. Sa totoo lang ang hirap magbakasyon dito sa bagong kumpanya na napasukan ko kasi wala silang working calendar for a year. Wala kasing sistema. Hay ayoko na mag-rant.

Tinanggap ko na lang ang katotohanan at hinantay ang January 1, 2016.

Pasensha na ang haba ng intro para sa post na ito. Actually hindi pa yun yung intro. Eto pa lang.

Pagkatapos kong mag-book nag-isip nako kung saan kami pede pumunta ng family ko. Sakto rin kasi uuwi ng Pinas ang tatay ko so treat ko na yun sa kanila. Search dito search doon. Gusto ko sana ng Boracay kasi hindi pa nakakarating parents ko dun kaso ang mahalia naman. Di kaya ng powers ko. Next Batangas. Kaso naisip ko pa lang yung traffic umayaw na kagad ako. Punta naman ako sa norte. Thunderbird Resort sa La Union. Keribels ang presyo. Ang kaso anlayo pala from Malolos. I had to consider din kasi yung travel time kasi may dalawang 3-year-old kids kaming kasama. Then Madam suggested Montemar Beach Club. Doon daw sila nag-company outing noon and maganda naman yung place. Chineck ko yung website nila tapos basa-basa rin ako ng reviews sa tripadvisor. Nag-send ako ng enquiry sa MBC at matiwasay naman silang sumagot sa mga katanungan ko. Ang kausap ko pala ay si Ms. Joy. After ilang exchanges ng emails ay nagpa-reserve nako ng room for 1 night good for 4 adults and 2 toddlers. January 5-6, 2016. I was thinking of a later date kasi naman pasok pa sa banga ng peak rates ang January 5. Kaso nung nagtanong naman ako ng rates for Jan. 6-7 e hindi pa available. I decided to push thru with Jan 5-6 kahit mahalia jackson para hindi naman maalangan ang tatay ko kasi Jan.9 ang flight niya pabalik ng Saudi. Tapos I asked na lang my good friend Elotte to make a bank desposit for me kasi pag via credit card pala need pa pumunta sa office.

I paid 11,560 pesos for one deluxe room (ocean view) for one night for 4 adults and 2 toddlers. Actually yung room costs 8,200 pesos good for 4 persons and then I added 3,000pesos for the 2 additional persons. Inclusive of breakfast for the 4 persons and additional 560pesos for the children's breakfast. When the confirmation voucher was sent to me it was mentioned na there was an overpayment since 11,200 pesos lang yung kinonfirm nila and the excess will be used on incidental charges upon check-out. I asked Ms. Joy about this and sinabi niya na malaki kasi ang portions for the breakfast ng kids so baka masayang lang pag hindi naubos ng 2 bata. OK lang naman sakin if that was the case. But the problem was hindi ko nacheck kung naibawas nga ba yung 560pesos na overpayment when I paid for the additional expenses that we had during our stay. Sa totoo lang ngayon ko lang naalala. Susme after 2 months! Tanga lang.

Hello Montemar Beach Club!
Day 1 (January 5, 2016)

From Malolos, 3-4hrs din ang binyahe namin papuntang Montemar Beach Club which is located in Bagac, Bataan. Medyo matagal kasi first time naming lahat and kasama pa ang stopover for lunch sa isang eat-all-you-can resto sa Pampanga. Bilang ayaw mag-drive ng tatay ko e we asked a cousin to drive for us (my parents, younger sister Icy, Miko and my niece Alisa). Additional payment for my cousin's accommodation since originally hindi siya kasama sa advanced payment.

View from our room

Check-in time is 2pm but we arrived past 3pm na yata. Madali namang sundan yung map na nakalagay sa website ng MBC kaso kinda tricky lang yung isang signage na nag-iindicate ng Bagac Town Proper. Salamat din pala sa google maps. ^_^

Para sa isang simpleng tao na tulad ko e MBC is paradise. Paalala: hindi po ako binayaran ng MBC. This is based on my experience. Sobrang relaxing ng place. At dahil off peak season e ang konti lang ng tao. Saya! Sobrang saya ko rin kasi natuwa ang family ko. You know naman na their happiness is my happiness. Ang pinakamalawak na resort na nakita ko sa tanang buhay ko. Ang resort na may golf course at mga kabayo sa loob. After passing the gate akala ko hindi resort yung napasukan namin.

Bubbles time

As you can see kahit katirikan ng araw e ok lang na maglakad-lakad sa labas kasi hindi mainit dahil sa mga puno.

Mamoo, Papoo, Alisa and Miko. The bakasyonistas ^_^

I decided to get a room that is on the first floor kasi may mga bata kaming kasama. Maganda sana yung sa second floor kasi may loft kaso nag-alala naman ako na baka biglang umakyat yung 2 bata and bigla na lang mahulog. Paranoid mummy lang. We were given a room at Inn I. I didn't expect na may direct access siya sa beach area (from the veranda). Hindi rin naman siya sobrang lapit sa beach para mag-worry kami na pag nalingat kami e nasa beach na yung dalawang makulit na bata. Our room was also very close to the Blue Pool. And tapat lang din ng Inn I ang La Marea Restaurant. In terms of location I think Inn I is the best place in MBC especially if you have kids and thunders (ehem ang mga rayuma) with you.

Complement sa mga staff ng MBC. Sobrang courteous and accommodating. From Kuya guard sa gate hanggang sa mga nag-assist samin sa pagdala ng bags sa aming room.

But I think the room itself needs to be renovated. Parang kinda old na kasi. We had a hard time adjusting the temperature of the aircon unit. Yung wooden panels ng sliding doors should be replaced with vertical blinds. And ang hirap isara nung sliding doors sa veranda.

The giant kabibe

I love the beach. It may not be the same as the white powdery sand of Boracay but the sand is fine and the water is clean and clear. It has a long stretch of shallow shoreline. Perfect for kids and adults that do not know how to swim (ako po yun!). 

Our little mermaids

The mermaids with Tita Icy.

Sunset at the beach!

Gusto sana naming maligo sa pool kaso pagdating namin hanggang gabi e closed siya. So we decided na tomorrow na lang ang swimming ng adults. I asked the attendant of the time the pool will be available and he kindly confirmed that the pool will be available by 9am.

View at night

We had our dinner at La Marea Resto. Pwedeng mag-dine inside or outside the resto. We opted to dine outside. Buti hindi malamok. At buti na lang may pizza kasi yun yung gusto ng mga bata. We ordered triple cheese pizza, Inihaw na bangus (boneless) and Sinigang na Lechon Kawali (the lechon kawali was separated from the soup) and of course rice. Sinigang is a must everytime we are with the kids kasi yun yung paborito nila. It was a bit pricey pero in my opinion sulit naman. We enjoyed the food. Every single bit of it. The best was the inihaw na bangus. As usual muntik ako maiyak sa sarap haha. The waiter who assisted us in our orders was very kind. He was also the one who suggested the inihaw na bangus.

While waiting for our orders.

Day 2 (January 6, 2016)

Sino pa nga ba ang unang nagising kung hindi ako. Ako na gusto laging nasusunod ang schedule. Ako na! ^_^ Initially the plan was to feed the fish in the lagoon/do some fishing after having brekky. Kaso hindi namin makita yung lagoon. Haha! Pero solve naman na kami sa aming paglalakad.

Patay gusto na kagad pumunta sa beach area.

Brekky at La Marea

Papoo and Mamoo

Good morning beach!

The resort also has this tree house and a hanging bridge. Mababa lang naman yung hanging bridge pero inandaran ako ng kaduwagan. Siyempre hindi papahuli nanay ko.

Sayang nga kasi we weren't able to experience the releasing of baby sea turtles. Though may nakita kaming isang maliit na turtle (na feeling ko malapit ng matigok) sa pawikan hatchery.

Swimming time!

We had the beach to ourselves. Well almost hehe. Bukod sa amin may isa pang nasa beach pero after a few minutes umalis na rin. Never seen my parents and the kids that happy. Syempre kasama na rin kaming 2 ng kapatid ko na masaya. ^_^ We stayed a bit more sa beach kasi around 9:30am pa daw magiging available yung pool (at dahil yata wala pa yung lifeguard). There were two more pools in the resort. The one which is exclusive for members and the other one na nasa kabilang panig ng mundo. Siyempre loyal kami sa kung alin yung malapit sa room namin. Hee ^_^

The Blue Pool

Saktong-sakto ang Blue Pool para sa amin dahil merong pang-bata at pang sa akin na hindi marunong lumangoy haha. Tatay ko lang lumipat dun sa kabilang side kasi siya lang ang marunong lumangoy sa amin.

We checked-out by 12pm. I paid our additional expenses via credit card which was very convenient. It was around 3K plus pesos [Dinner, additional orders for breakfast, my cousin's accommodation and WiFi payment for 2 devices (100pesos)]. Medyo kulang pa sa customer service yung nasa reception desk noon kasi parang bago pa lang yata or under training pa. Ayun nga hindi ko man chineck sa receipt kung nabawas yung overpayment ko. Hay hay hay hay....

We really enjoyed our stay in MBC and will definitely return here. I highly recommend this place to those who want a very relaxing vacation.

See you again paradise!

Hanggang sa muli!

Bow.

Week 26

August 21 - My second to the last check-up with Lola OB. Yes! I'll be going back to Philippines next month to have my baby delivered there. I was checked for presence of bacteria in my vagina and will be getting the result on September 14. Baby is growing fine and malikot as usual.

This time I requested Lola OB for a medical certificate (in English) since I need it for my air travel and also for my check-up in the Philippines. I had to pay 5,000 yen for the document. I know it's mahalia but I need it. Pikit mata na lang na bayaran. I'll be getting it a week before my flight.

I just remembered a comment from Fiel-kun (one of the three readers of my blog) asking if I'm going to give birth here in Japan and if my child will be a Japanese citizen. They're not the exact words but somehow related to that. Anyways I will be giving birth in the Philippines because of the following reasons:

- By the time I'll be giving birth winter is approaching here in Japan and I wouldn't want to risk my baby's health as well as mine. We might not bear the cold temperature.

- I want to give birth with my mom in a hospital where there is no language barrier.

- Super mahalia ang manganak dito. Pramis!

- It would be very hard for Basuraman and I if I'm going to give birth here since there's only the two of us. At least in the Philippines we both have our families in case we need help.

- I don't want to complicate the birth certificate of my child and I don't want to deal with the shitty service of Philippine Embassy in Tokyo. Baka pati anak ko ma-stress.

I think Japan doesn't give citizenship by birth unless one of the parent is Japanese. So in our case since we're both Filipino, eventhough our child is born here in Japan, his/her citizenship is still Filipino. For details pakitanong si Mr. google. Tinatamad ako e.

If ever Japan gives citizenship by birth I think there's a chance tha I would choose to give birth here. But it still depends on the situation. I am still not sure about it.

Malapit na naman akong mag- "Hello Pilipins!" ^_^

hindi lahat ng kulot salot

got my hair (digitally) permed at tony and jackey (sm north edsa) last sunday. thank you to my beloved husband basuraman for accompanying me (and for paying the bill as well hihi). ang pangarap kong maging kulot ay natupad din!

4.5 excruciating hours! ugh!

and today we went to zoobic safari....

close encounter with the tigerrrr. btw headband courtesy of my sis elotte :D

look at the humongous paws and scary teeth! andaming laway!

group picture ^_^

@aristocrat... kami'y tao lang na napapagod at naguguom din :D

goodnight pilipins!

pasko na sinta ko

i'm coming home

i'm coming home

tell the world

i'm coming home.....

-narinig ko habang pinapanood ang "The Townie" episode ng Gossip Girl ^_^

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ilang tulog na lang jabi na naman.... at dahil walking distance ang jabi sa bahay nila basuraman e paniguradong everyday jabi ito! yeahboi ^0^

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at dahil mabagal ang internet connection sa third world country e baka pagbalik ko na ulit dito sa nihon makapagblog.

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

hindi ko pa flight bukas. ilang days pa. excited lang ^_^V

waw pilipins!

In my 17-day stay in the Philippines sikoletlover....

*BABALA: bumabaha ng litrato.

....went to Boracay with Basuraman.

under the sea. we have a good photographer/guide :)

we're sinking LOL

sakto yung mga isda. natakpan mukha ko (^_^')?

 doin' my second and third braid :)

 basuraman and sikoletlover. happy together

 ....ate ate ate!

....visited my 2 lovely friends (leah and mareng gina) who just gave birth to their uberly handsome sons.

with my inaanak baby gareth :)

....had dinner with former colleagues (with the BFs. ehem).

@Dencio's Luisita

....visited my insan and celebrated Hiroshi Ken's 1st birthday!

Actually we're not cousins by blood. a former colleague. noong unang panahon na nagtatrabaho pa ako sa isang semiconductor company sa tarlac e naisipan na lang namin bigla ni Kuya Pae na magtawagan ng insan because....we are family! I got all my sisters with me!

Kuya Pae with his wife Pau, son Ken-ken and niece Ashley ^_^

puno na ng icing ang mag-ama!

....hang out with good ol' friends.
Vanjie also was in vacation (she's working in Dubai). Lucky me ^_^

with pao, elotte, and vanjie. thank you very much for the time. salamat sa pagtake ng leaves for me ^__^ you really love me haha

....got married ^_^

after 9 years 11 months and 10 days...finally ^_^

*sayang di kami umabot 10 years (-_^)V

hello pilipins!

iba na lalagyanan ng hot choco sa jabi ^_^

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habang naglalakad....

ako: uy mangga (ang inyo pong lingkod ay adik sa hilaw na mangga. hektwali kahit hinog)
basuraman: e di bumili ka

ako: ay wag na

after 3.1416 seconds

ako: balikan natin

habang binabalatan ni manong tindero ang mangga...

ako: ang init no. malagkit

basuraman: mukhang uulan na naman
ako: huwaaaaaaa dami mangga ^0^

habang gustong tumulo ng laway ko sa dami ng mangga e sumabat si manong tindero

manong tindero: naku ganyan po talaga ang naglilihi. pabili ng pabili ng kung anu-ano tapos hindi naman kakainin.

HOMAYGASSSSSSSSS! 0_0 gusto ko shang bigyan ng  Executioner Drop, Cruel Punishment, Reverse Death Valley Bomb, Mizukagami, Batucada, Bear Swing!!!! kung di lang talaga ako adik sa hilaw na mangga....

i lab da pilipins!

ang fried balat ng manok ni basyang

2 malaking singaw sa dila...present!

ubo....present!

pagiging antukin....super present these past few days

katamaran....always present! most punctual awardee

sirang mouse....present!

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marami akong gustong ipost na entry. mga tinubuan na ng kabute sa sobrang tagal ng paghihintay. ngunit subalit datapwat hestas barabas e hindi ko magawa dahil ....

-aabutin na naman ako ng siyam siyam hanggang diko na mamalayan na madaling araw na naman pala
-tamad lang talaga ako

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i hope that my family and friends in the phils are safe. just called my mom and upto now wala pa ring kuryente sa bahay. kagabi pa. Keep them safe Lord!

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naawa ako sa mga pilipinong pinalaki na hde marunong magtagalog or any native Filipino dialect. parang mga ibon na pinalaki sa karagatan. maiintindihan ko sana kung sa ibang bansa sila lumaki. pero yung ipinanganak at lumaki mismo sa Pilipinas e isang MALAKING KALOKOHAN. ano na lang ang sasabihin ni Rizal kapag nalaman niya ito? Filipino subject na lang ibinabagsak pa nila.

mga inglisero at ingliserang gunggong.

you think you're cool eh?

you think you're better than those who can only speak their native dialect eh?


daig pa kayo ng mga pipi.

sumakit tuloy ang ulo ko. buset.