Dumaguete Adventure Series: Whale Sharks in Oslob

On the last day of May of 2016, my 8-year old son experienced something he will never forget. He finally got to swim and snorkel with the whale sharks! After his first snorkeling stint in Apo Island, I was quite hopeful that he will agree to go down and swim with the whale sharks with us. The first time we visited Oslob a year ago, he wanted to go down but was too scared to do so. When he finally did, the whale sharks were already too far to be seen underwater. 

 

With much prayers and a lengthy heart-to-heard talk with his dad, my son finally agreed to go down. The moment he put on his mask and peeked under the water, I knew he was in awe. I can hear his muffled screams underwater. Thank God for Tribord masks! It's truly different seeing them from the boat and witnessing them underwater. 



Here are some fun facts about whale sharks (some taken from National Geographic):

• They are the largest fish in the sea (in case you're wondering about whales, they are mammals and not fish)
• Whale Sharks are sharks, not whales
• Can reach lengths of 40 feet (12 meters) or more
• Their favorite meal is plankton. They scoop these tiny plants and animals up, along with any small fish that happen to be around, with their colossal gaping mouths while swimming close to the water's surface.
• They use a technique called "cross-flow filtration" to passively filter food through its formidably sized
• They prefer warm waters which is why whale sharks are often found in tropical seas

You may travel to see the Whale Sharks in Oslob via a 3-hour land trip from Cebu which is what we did last year, or a 1-hour boat ride from Dumaguete like what we recently did. I found this very helpful site on how to get to Oslob from various cities. Click here to view it.

 

Seeing these gentle giants are worth the trip. The whole family will love the experience. Even smaller kids who are not brave enough to go down the water will be able to see the Whale Sharks feeding from the boat. Should you decide to go down to swim, do not forget your underwater cameras. You may also rent there and ask the boatman to take your photos. They are quite the experts at underwater 'whale shark' photography.

 

(Photos from this blog are my friend Franc Ng's GoPro. Not a professional photographer, not a 'Butanding boat man' either. Thanks, Franc!)

 

Read more...

Countdown to the Elections!

With only a weekend away, the much awaited election is coming to a close. While I will not endorse any candidate here, I would like to encourage everyone to pray that we will have a peaceful and honest election. That those who will not win will be supportive of those who do. And those that win will do a fantastic job in bringing revival to the Philippines.

Proverbs 16:33 "Make your motions and cast your votes, but God has the final say."

 

Pray and vote with wisdom. Our children's future is at stake. Make your vote count!

Read more...

My Top 5 Running Gears

Running, generally, is pretty cheap. All you need is a pair of running shoes and you're set. You don't even need any gym membership. But sometimes we need a few things that can help us sustain the race. Here are my top 5 essential running gears:

• Running Shoes - I currently use Inov-8 barefoot running shoes but have been eyeing the Nike Free too. I prefer less bulk when I run so barefoot shoes are the best choice for me. They are lighter and more flexible. If you are looking to buy your first pair, I suggest you go to any RUNNR store to do a Gait Analysis.  The analysis is free of charge and can determine the best shoe type for your feet.  

• iPhone - I use my trusty iPhone to listen to music and podcast during my run. It's also a good tool to monitor your distance and time. I use the Runkeeper app for GPS and stats. Maybe next time i can upgrade to the Apple watch but we'll see.

  

  apple.com

• Running Belt or Armband - You can choose between an armband or Running Belt to put your phone in. I personally prefer a running belt because I have an iPhone6 and I find it too bulky for my arms. My favorite brand so far is Fitletic since it fits well and does not budge when I run.

Fitletic.com

• Good earphones - I personally like Jabra Wave because it's wireless and the fit is very comfortable for long-wearing. I recently saw Jabra Rox Wireless Earbuds which I really like so maybe that's going to be my next target. 

  

  Jabra Wave (Jabra.com)

• Hydration Bottle - Some people do away with water bottles and just rely on hydration stations prepared by the organizer. I do this for shorter runs like 3k or 5k. But for my recent 10k, i brought my hydration bottle with me. I like it because when I start running, I don't want to keep stopping for water as it breaks my momentum. The hydration bottle allows me to continue running while keeping myself well hydrated. I am currently using Fuel Belt single bottle. It's small enough to easily hold but holds a good 10oz of water.

  

  Fuelbelt.com

Of course you can also just do away with everything that I mentioned above and just run free. It's all a matter of personal preference and whatever works best for you. The most important thing is just to take that first step. Now, get started and keep moving.




Read more...

Anvaya Cove Beach and Nature Club, Philippines

“Anvaya” means “family” in the ancient Sanskrit language...that's the first thing that you will read when you visit Anvaya Cove's main website (http://www.anvayacove.com/) and that's also how you will feel the moment you enter the resort. The place is very serene and kid-friendly.  And the people working there are all so kind and courteous.  It does feel like family.

Early last year our family visited Anvaya once again. Though it wasn't my first time to go there, it was my first time to stay overnight. My dad got us adjacent Lagoon Terrace rooms which i highly recommend. All their rooms are located in an area separate from the clubhouse. If the weather permits, a walk to the room is always enjoyable. You'll find yourself surrounded by lakes and parks which is almost a rarity in the busy Metro Manila.  December to February are the most ideal months to visit since the weather is nice and cool. On hotter months, you can always opt to take the golf cart back to the room. They have plenty waiting by the lobby so you almost never have to wait.

I'd like to share some pictures with you. Most pictures were taken during our visit.

Taking the golf cart to back to our room

Watching the ducks swim by the pond

Trying to catch the worms on an early morning

Enjoying the lounge bed in front of our Lagoon Terrace rooms 

Receiving area of the Lagoon Terrace

They also have a SPA that i will try next time. Photos below are taken from the Anvaya website.

The Spa rooms

This is where you can get foot massages

Group massage

I am definitely looking forward to our next visit to Anvaya. It's the perfect weekend getaway for the family.

Check out the map below for the best way to go to Anvaya (via SCTEX).

Learn more about how to visit Anvaya Cove by visiting their site: http://www.anvayacove.com

Read more...

The Havaianas Philippines Story

Over 10 years ago, if you approach any Filipina and ask if she is willing to pay over P1,000 for a pair of tsinelas (flip-flops), what do you think would she say?  In 2003, Anne Arcenas-Gonzalez thought out of the box and brought Havaianas to the Philippine shores. Learn about how the Filipinos' mindsets were changed through proper brand positioning and marketing.

The 2nd Mompreneur Summit is happening tomorrow at the Blue Leaf Events Pavillon from 9am to 4pm.  There will be a lot of other speakers who will be sharing their success stories as mom entrepreneurs.

Tickets are at P3,000 per head. You may call 470-9925 to reserve.

Read more...