Davao City Series: People's Park

People's Park is one of the most popular destinations in Davao City for tourists and visitors alike.

The entrance has a dome with spikes, inspired by Davao's famous fruit: durian.

Davao City Series: Walk n' Water Ball Park

Walk n' Water Ball Park, like Zorv Park, is located in the Crocodile Park compound in Davao City. Here, you are also inside a giant ball, but instead of rolling downhill, you play in a pond.

First, you are asked to remove your shoes then get inside a deflated translucent ball through a big zipper. Air is then pumped to inflate the ball.

Davao City Series: Tumbling Inside a Giant Ball at Davao Zorv Park

Crocodile Park is one of the popular tourist destinations in Davao City. However, we were a bit short on time and the place sounded similar to Zoobic Safari in Subic so we decided to just skip the zoo and head straight to two other attractions located in the Crocodile Park compound: Davao Zorv Park and Walk n' Water Ball Park.

Zorbing (also called sphereing, orbing or globe riding) involves being strapped inside a giant ball which is then rolled down a gentle slope.

Davao City Series: Partoza Durian Farms

After zorbing and trying (and failing) to walk on water, we proceeded to the Partoza Durian Farms. Agro-tourism, yeah! The farm is a 45min drive from the Crocodile Park compound.

One important thing if you're planning to visit the Partoza Durian Farms: appointment is a must. Contact them at least two days before your visit. Because lunch and snacks were available, I initially thought that we could just waltz right in, just like in most restaurants and parks. Good thing we bothered to ask two days before if a reservation was required.

Davao City Series: D’ Bone Collector Museum is an Exotic and Educational Place

D'Bone Collector Museum is a relatively new educational wildlife museum in Davao City. In a way, it is like a zoo, since it showcases animals, but the twist is that the featured animals are all dead: bones, shells, teeth. There are some preserved animals and animal replicas as well.

The ground floor houses a few displays, some framed information about the museum, and a small souvenir shop. The bulk of the displays are on the upper floors.

There are skulls and skeletons of birds and land animals such as horses, dogs, and goats.

Singing Lessons with Jeanne Velasco-Vicars of Showstoppers

Last January, Dealspot sold vouchers for singing lessons at Showstoppers Center for Music and Arts. The lessons would be handled by Ms. Jeanne Velasco-Vicars and the technique she would be using was called vocal sound management. According to the description, vocal sound management can correct vocal faults and effect vocal adjustment in the shortest possible time. So with this technique, the student can expect to learn to sing in tune, prevent getting hoarse, increase vocal range and volume, improve enunciation, enhance vocal expression, and clean up his sound.

The teacher, Ms. Vicars, is the voice coach of several celebrities such as Katryn Bernardo, Jennelyn Mercado, Sarah Geronimo, and Isabella de Leon. The office was located in Delta in Quezon City and the rate was P750 per hour per student (regular rate), P375 through the Dealspot promo. I texted Ms. Vicars to confirm if the lessons would be one-on-one and she said yes. I bought six vouchers -- three for me, three for bf. Our first lesson was done in the Delta office, the second after they moved to Timog (in the unit where Ms. Vicars also lives) due to rising rental cost in the previous office.

Bf and I both love music but we're not the singing type. We don't even like contemporary pop and Rn'B. We don't have any ambition to sing professionally. Although they're undeniably great singers, I don't dream of singing ala Charice or Regine Velasquez (my singing idols are more like Chris Cornell and Sebastian Bach, even if they're of the wrong gender). Anyway, my goal was pretty simple: I want to sing in tune. And of course, our overall goal: to try new stuff.

So how did things go? Well, both good and bad.

Meet Manila's Tertulia Night for #ThoughtfulTourism at Adarna Food and Culture Restaurant

I remember when I was a kid, people back then mostly relied on TV and friends for information about tourist destinations. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet and social media, one can readily access a wealth of information about our local destinations. There are tons of awe-inspiring images of these places thanks to photographers and travel bloggers, and it's not just about Mount Mayon, Chocolate Hills, Banawe Rice Terraces or other "household names" anymore. You can go as near or as far as you want within the country and still find an amazing place. It is very encouraging that nowadays, our enthusiasm for our country's attractions is very much heartfelt. It's as if every travel photograph has a caption saying "This is paradise" and the seen/unseen photographer screaming "Ang ganda rito!!!" Pinoy pride indeed.

pic from Meet Manila FB page

Local tourism is certainly a cause I can get behind. So when I was invited to the launch party of Meet Manila, I was happy. Meet Manila is a new and comprehensive Philippine travel portal which aims to promote our provinces and top tourist destinations as well as the very catchy mindset called #ThoughtfulTourism. #ThoughtfulTourism is not just tourism for the sake of attracting tourists but also involves educating and helping people to uplift small communities, conserve and ethically use our wildlife and natural resources, and promote far-flung provinces.

The event gathered together online travel groups and companies, bloggers, government officials, and other groups and individuals passionate about Philippine tourism. The party's theme was Tertulia Night - a social gathering that focuses on art and literature and that has evolved from being a regularly scheduled public event in the Spanish tradition to a celebration through poetry, song, arts, and dances. Optional but recommended attire was modern Filipiniana.

Gold's Gym Waltermart North EDSA

To shed a few pounds, I thought of going to the gym. I was not looking for a long-term commitment to a gym though, so when Gold's Gym had a promo through Metrodeal, I thought, Perfect! Just what I was looking for.

Their trial membership included 10 visits, consumable within two months, and access to all their facilities and classes.

We chose their Waltermart North EDSA branch since that was the most convenient for us. On our first day, we were briefed by a personable young man named Orly Natividad. Before we began exercising, he asked us if he could discuss membership first. We got a bit worried that it would lead to us being pressured to become members. To prevent that, I took the initiative and told him "Okay, as long as you won't pressure us into signing up." He didn't. He just explained the different annual rates for their branch.

English Proficiency Workshop at Speech Coach (JC Santos Speech Training Center)

I have decent enough English writing skills but I am not comfortable with speaking in English at length. I know many Filipinos can relate to this. We've been taught English since we were toddlers. We watch a lot of Hollywood movies and American TV shows. We read a lot of English books and magazines. We use written English a lot in our work/business and we type a lot of our thoughts in English to converse with people online, BUT we only speak in English when it is required. Try speaking in straight English out of the blue and chances are, other people will find it amusing or maarte. Double that if you speak with an accent. Triple that if you have no mestizo features at all.

When I chanced upon the Speech Coach ad for a 1-day intensive English fluency and self-confidence workshop, I told bf that we should check it out. He was skeptical; he wasn't sold with the idea that a life-long awkwardness with English speaking would be solved in just 8 hours of work. We went anyway.

Speech Coach has two branches, both in Marikina: one in C&B Mall and one across Santolan LRT-2 station. We chose the Santolan branch since going there was more convenient for us (via LRT-1 and 2). When we were already in the Santolan station, we couldn't see Speech Coach's sign so I called them up and we were told to cross the overpass and someone from their office would be waiting for us at the 7-11 store. True enough, a guy was waiting for us in front of 7-11 and he accompanied us to Speech Coach. Their office was just a few steps away but was not conspicuous when standing in the LRT station due to the way the road curved.

Digital Perm at Fredy Salon in Timog

I had always had straight hair - naturally stick-straight when I was a kid, straight but slightly puffy as an adult - and for the past few years I had wondered what I would look like with curls. I never got around to getting a perm though, until now.

I bought a digital perm voucher at Fredy Salon from Cleverbuy.

In case you're unfamiliar with the term, digital perming (aka digiperm or hot perming) is a hair curling technique from Japan. It involves the use of hot rods connected to a machine that regulates the temperature. Digi perm uses heat and a solution different from the one used in traditional perm (aka cold perming). Because the rollers are hot and can't therefore be placed too close to the scalp, only the lower part of the hair is permed. Digiperm can be used to achieve big curls and beach waves.

Fredy Salon's Timog branch is located near GMA 7 (and Adonis, hehe).

I went on a Tuesday afternoon (or as The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon Cooper would say: prevening). I was the only customer during my visit so there was no waiting. Thank goodness! The whole procedure took about four hours. I arrived at a little past 5pm and left at around 9:30pm.

My hair was first shampooed. A cream was then applied and my hair was washed again. Small sections of my  hair were then rolled onto ceramic curlers. Those curlers were a lot heavier than I thought. Those rods were then attached to the (alien-looking) digiperm machine and heated for around an hour.

This Meat Lover Loved the Vegetarian Pasta Dishes at Gandiva Cafe and Archery Range

Read here for Part 1: Shooting Arrows at Gandiva Cafe and Archery Range and the Problem with our Ensogo Voucher

We hadn't had lunch at it was already mid-afternoon - we were starving! Looking at the menu board at the counter, at first we were a bit agitated because we thought Gandiva Cafe only served beverages and light snacks. Thankfully they did have pasta dishes available that day and we were handed the complete menu. There was one "catch" though: they only served vegetarian dishes.

To me, a meat lover, that was scary. Even if they had veggie meat. I had tried dining at a vegetarian restaurant before and I didn't like it. The food tasted funny to me. But we were already there - seven floors up One Corporate Center - and we were famished, so we took their menu and decided on what to order.

Taste

Bf ordered Spicy-Nut Sundried Pasta and Cranberry Fizz while I ordered Creamy Ham and Mushroom Pasta and Mango Yoghurt.

Spicy-Nut Sundried Pasta (a hint of spicy and nutty flavors blend
plus the added sweet and tart sundried tomatoes)

Shooting Arrows at Gandiva Cafe and Archery Range and the Problem with our Ensogo Voucher

I bought two Gandiva vouchers through Ensogo. Unfortunately, we were late for our appointment. At first, the Gandiva personnel refused to accommodate us, saying that our appointment had become invalid since we were more than 15 minutes late. We were at fault, no argument about that, but we were still hoping that we would be accommodated since all the other voucher merchants had accommodated us even if we were late. I got a little annoyed when the Gandiva guy stated that the 15-minute limitation was printed on the voucher when it was not. Anyway, after a few minutes, he said that he would ask his boss. The voucher cost P300 each. Bf and I did not want to kiss our P600 goodbye so we crossed our fingers. When the Gandiva personnel returned, he said they would accommodate us. Whew! and Yipee!

Even though we were off in a not-too-smooth a start, that Gandiva guy assisted us well during our stay. He was the one who briefed us newbies on how to use the equipment and how things were done in the archery area.

First, he taught us how to attach the bracer (arm guard that protected the inside of the arm holding the bow from being hit by the bow string and that prevented clothes from catching the string) and finger tab (for the fingers of the other hand). He attached our paper targets on the boards and brought us our bows and metal arrows contained in quivers. Bf's quiver was a belt-type one while mine had a hook for attaching to a belt hoop. He then told us how to position ourselves and how to draw and fire an arrow.

bows

Teeth Cleaning with Fluoride Treatment and Dental Exam at Chic Smile Dental Clinic

I learned about Chic Smile Dental Clinic through their Twangoo promo.

entrance

Booking was a breeze. They were considerate when I had to rebook at the last minute because I had allergies on the day of my visit.

The deal included professional teeth cleaning (also called oral prophylaxis), fluoride treatment, and dental examination. Oral prophylaxis involves cleaning and polishing the teeth to remove plaque and tartar, prevent tooth decay, and visibly reduce stains.

I communicated with Chic Smile via text messages. They replied promptly and were always polite and professional. I appreciated that, because I had encountered several merchants who put landline and cellphone numbers on the deal's terms yet when I texted them, they never replied.

The clinic was not that big, but it was clean and cosy, with a simple yet modern design. The treatment room was spacious, well-lit, and also modern-looking. The dental equipment looked up-to-date.

reception area

Ang Ilustrador ng Kabataan: 20 Taon Art Exhibit at the Ayala Museum

I visited the Ayala Museum thrice last year for the Ambeth Ocampo lectures. After the lectures, we roamed around to see the artwork displayed on the ground floor. The Ilustrador ng Kabataan exhibit was my favorite among the three exhibits I had seen because there were lots of artwork there that appealed to my taste. I also loved the lively and fun way Ayala Museum displayed them -- brought my inner child out :)

Manila Bay Cruise by Sun Cruises Inc.

Pakyaw held a widely-popular promo for Sun Cruises' Manila Bay Cruise (Regular price: P550, discounted price: P188). It was for a 1 hour and 15mins cruise of the Manila Bay waters, with live music and a set dinner included.

A lot of people availed the promo (13805 vouchers were sold) but there were three sailing schedules everyday from Sept 23, 2011-Jan 31, 2012 (excluding holidays) so everyone could be accommodated. A month after purchase, Pakyaw sent emails to the voucher holders, informing us that for safety and legal reasons, pregnant women on their 4th month and up would not be allowed to take the trip unless they had a medical certificate and were willing to sign a waiver. It would have been better if that info was posted in the deal's terms so that such pregnant women would have known that limitation before they bought vouchers, but it was good that Pakyaw took the time to email that update to the buyers.

Voucher holders were asked to call for reservations at least 3 days in advance (6 numbers were given - 5 landline numbers and 1 cellphone number) but the reservation was not without hassle. I texted the cellphone number and got no reply. I called around 4:30pm to confirm if my text reservation was scheduled but the person who answered the phone told me that reservations were handled by another department and were only entertained before 4pm. I called again the next day to reserve two slots, but the reservations agent gave me their email address and asked me to email our voucher numbers, order number, and our names, ages, and nationalities. Then why did they bother to post a lot of numbers in the deal's terms? They should have spared the buyers as well as their staff the hassle and just posted that buyers should email them the needed info to book for reservations. I also wondered why they asked for our nationalities, but bf said that it could be for statistics or marketing purposes. Fine!

Sailing schedule was as follows: 1st sailing 4:30pm-5:45pm, 2nd sailing 6:15pm-7:30pm, and 3rd sailing 8:00pm-9:15pm. Buyers should be at the docking area behind Folk Arts Theater at least 30 minutes before sailing time. We arrived around 4:30 and since it was such a beautiful day, we used the extra time to walk around the area - stalking cats, eating barbecue, and taking pictures of plants and the surroundings.

Diamond Peel at Holy King Medical Clinic (Caloocan)

Previously, we had a diamond peel treatment at Medicard in Makati.

Holy King Medical Clinic was more conveniently located for us so we decided to try it next.

The place was small and modest. There were two floors. On each floor were several beds, separated by curtains. I was treated by one of the aestheticians upstairs while bf was treated downstairs.

steps leading to the second floor

I was asked to lie down on the bed closest to the door. Unfortunately, the bed was not properly cleaned after the previous occupant left. There was a wet spot. Thank goodness it was just gel. When I called the aesthetician's attention, she wiped it off.

Things were not as private as in Medicard. I could hear conversations between the aestheticians as well as between other clients and the staff attending to them. Some of the staff moved around a lot which made me a little bit self-conscious since I was near the door and they would always pass me by.

My treatment was just facial diamond peel but my aesthetician was kind enough to treat my neck as well and also paid more attention to problematic areas such as the jawline, sides of the nose, and corners of the mouth. After bf's treatment, his skin looked great. The staff as well as the lady doctor I got to meet later on were all polite, patient, and accommodating.

Holy King Medical Clinic
Unit C 19 Jade Tower 2nd Avenue
Caloocan City, Metro Manila
Phone: 475-6456

Conflicting Prices of Crayola Crayons at 7-Eleven Edsa-Quezon Ave

We went to 7-11 Edsa-Quezon Ave to buy a basic set of Crayola crayons. I saw the price (P17) so I handed a P20 bill to the cashier. I was surprised that he asked me to give him P9 more. I thought maybe I saw the wrong price so I gave him the P9.

I checked the receipt and it said P29 alright.

Out of curiosity, I went back to the school supplies section. Sure enough, the tag said P17, almost half the price encoded in their computer!

I hope they check and correct any conflicting prices soon.



7-Eleven Philippines
EDSA cor. Quezon Avenue
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Web site
Facebook page

Sky Safari Zipline at Zoobic Safari (Subic, Zambales)

Zoobic's Sky Safari Zipline was a fun ride. It was our first time to try it. We had two senior citizens with us and we thought we had to drag them kicking and screaming to try the 200m zipline, but they were game enough to try without any convincing needed.

view from the zipline area

view from the zipline area

Nearby, these handsome fellas were lounging that lazy Saturday afternoon.

Zoobic Night Safari at Subic, Zambales

We went to Zoobic Safari last November 5. Zoobic Safari is a 25-hectare amusement park located in Subic, Zambales. To go there, we took a Victory Liner bus in Monumento (regular bus - P169/pax, P121/pax for senior citizens; airconditioned bus - P202/pax, P162/pax for seniors). Upon arrival at Olongapo, we took a jeepney to the SBMA gate (P8/pax) then a taxi to Zoobic Safari (P350/trip). The taxi fare was costly, yes, but it was a long ride and the taxi was a van-type vehicle so you'll spend less per person if you're going in a big group. As far as I knew, there was no alternative - no buses or jeepneys went to and from Zoobic, just private vehicles and taxis. The system was to get the driver's mobile number then text him around 30mins before the end of your trip. Failure to get the driver's number might result in the commuter having a hard time in going back since there were very few available taxis waiting outside Zoobic Safari.

The driver of our taxi was friendly and chatty, so the taxi ride was leisurely. The scenery was also terrific - lots of greens! For someone born and raised in Manila, breathing fresh air and seeing lots of trees has become a luxury so I really appreciated the time just looking at them.

Upon arrival at Zoobic, we were told to sit near the hall entrance to have our picture taken. I didn't like that part, because with the way the staff ushered us ("let's take a picture first!"), it sounded as if the pictures were included in the tour package and were therefore free, but they were not.

One of the primary reasons why I wanted to go to Zoobic was to have my picture taken while I was petting/feeding a tiger cub. When I saw the tiger in the feeding booth, though, I had a thought bubble: that is not a baby tiger!

The tiger was a little petulant. There was a time when its handler was pulling on its chains to make it get up and approach the bench, but it wasn't responding and was even clinging to a leg of the table. It was probably bored or sleepy or tired of being fed milk by the tourists. There was another tiger nearby. This one was inside a cage, pacing back and forth, back and forth. Truth be told, I felt bad for the tigers because they looked bored. I just hope that all the tigers in Zoobic's Tiger Safari took turns in being the feeding area tiger and the caged tiger.

Since the feeding tiger was a lot bigger than I expected, I had to muster more courage. When I finally had it, we approached the staff, only to be told to come back because it was already feeding time for the tiger. Well they got no resistance from me, I wasn't interested in being so close to a tiger who was already expecting a fresh meat that minute. I had no plans of being an appetizer.

Diamond Peel Facial Treatment at MEDIcard Skin & Body Clinic

I'm a Medicard member but my interaction with the company was limited to annual physical examinations that they conducted in my workplace's premises. I knew they had an office in Makati but it was my first time to go there. I was expecting just a small, simple clinic so it was a pleasant surprise for me to learn that their office was big and posh. We went up to the third floor for their 20min facial diamond peel treatment. It was the first time for both of us to try diamond peel.

The whole building looked spotless and chic. Decorations were minimal but tasteful. The place was well-lit and the temperature was just right, not chilly.

To those unfamiliar with it, diamond peel (also called microdermabrasion) involves the use of diamond dust to slough off dead skin cells and stimulate cell turnover. It minimizes pimple scars, fine lines, and sun damage. Compared to other skin peeling treatments, diamond peel has no downtime, so you can do your normal activities right after.