SILVERMINE BEACH RESORT

Hong Kong is a melting pot of tourists, businessmen, overseas workers, foreigners and locals.  It is the city that buzzes even at its unholy hour. It exudes an extraordinary energy to each person walking on it. Because of its power, I realised Hongkies, including myself, have one thing in common. After a day's work, they crave for a getaway. Last May, we eyed Silvermine Beach Resort in Mui Wo.

Hong Kong is known for its fast paced lifestyle. When you live here, you adapt to it subconsciously. It is proven by how its development could be compared to a concrete jungle since it is made up of towering apartments, sky-high buildings lining up the harbour and busy high tech mass transit railways in between. Despite the fast modernisation of Hong Kong, it is still remarkable as to how they preserve their customs by putting it into practice. Their rich culture can never be undermined as they do celebrate festivals the traditional way still that are solely their own. Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival and the Dragon Boat Festival.

Ultimately, Dragon Boat Festival is one of the most prestigious events held in Hong Kong. Supporting my husband, last May 29 and the rest of the Team Mushu, we were able to experience a staycation at Silvermine Beach Resort in Mui Wo. And in this post, I will talk about what to expect of the resort.

LOCATION:

this is the receiving area and this is where
the front desk is located

Rowing for the Dragon Boat Races is quite physically demanding as I had my own experience of a winning race with Team Mushu two years ago. My husband wanted to have a good rest before and after and thought of a good way to deal with it. And we researched for the best accommodation for our family. There popped up Silvermine Beach Resort.

Mui Wo's tranquil location is highlighted by a simple 3 storey, 33 year old hotel that faces a vast beach upfront and extends to a mountain view at the back. Built in 1983, I have observed that the renovation last 2014 had did it good since the doors use upscale technology.

The colours of the halls are bright and it had a modern feel. I loved the way its walls were in pastel colours. It lifts up the mood and most of all, I love how the terrace faces the vast horizon of Mui Wo Beach. As I sat down and sipped my coffee, I looked straight out, and I felt a hopeful energy surging in.

a terrace where I find it very good to have coffee at
while looking straight out in the horizon

Silvermine Beach Resort is situated at DD2, Lot 648, Silvermine Bay, Mui Wo, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, Hong Kong. It is surrounded with good seafood, Italian and Chinese restaurants. Unfortunately, taxis cannot go near the hotel but bus stations and the pier make it accessible to public transport. A school, a wet market, a police station, and a park  surrounds the area so retirees, writers, or anybody who needs a getaway, can find serenity, satisfaction and comfort in Silvermine.

FACILITIES:

My daughter checks out the place.

We went for an Italian dinner
which was a good 15 minute walk
from the hotel.

During our stay, the room had a water boiler complete with the tea set and a huge bottle of mineral water. The usual give away of hotels I've gone to had two small bottles only. The refrigerator was surprisingly empty. Don't expect any canned refreshments or bottle shots. Room service is available which is my husband's favourite thing to have but this time, we opted to eat outside and try one of the restaurants around the area.

The room is fully furnished. It got a working desk, a wardrobe closet and a huge bed that is the most comfortable I've ever laid on together with my Samoan husband and my not so little girl. It's bigger than a king size bed I promise you. A bedside table suffices it with an access to all the lights which I find very handy since I didn't have to move my baby away from my arms in turning them off come sleeping time.

My friend helped me book the sea view room that opens up to the beach where I had the best view in watching my husband's races from. I loved the idea that the room can be covered entirely from the sun if you want to take an afternoon nap and when you're ready to face the morning sun, the rays are allowed to uplift the entire room in an instant as you raise the blinds.

The windows that I watched some of the races from when it was too hot.
It was raining that day hence the skies were not very clear.

It is complete with a flat screen TV but there was no HDMI cable available to borrow. So as for entertainment, I greatly relied on my laptop since most of the shows on TV are in Chinese. Their internet goes prepaid. You have to buy a 24 hour connection that I found a little bit of too much for the price of HK$100 each time.

That is the huge bed that gave us comfort for 2 days.
'Nuff said!

The bathroom is complete with the basic amenities. The bedside table holds two pairs of disposable

slippers. Drawers contained a blowdryer and a bible. There's an iron and an iron stand for your convenience and a phone that is only restricted to local calls. I'm sure arrangement can be made for it to have an access internationally but may I suggest for you to use the internet instead if you are to avail of it anyway since charge is per minute for an international call.

how the bedside table
looks like

The outdoor swimming people and the kiddie pool is opened seasonally. This year, it will be open to guests daily from May 1 to October 31, from 9am to 10pm only. As Hong Kong is known for having unpredictable weather, once thunderstorm is officially hoisted, the swimming pools will automatically  be closed. Nonetheless, the fitness centre and the sauna and steam room will remain at function daily from 9am to 10pm as well.

The resort encourages guests to engage in outdoor activities to take advantage of its pride, the natural ambiance it stands from. Biking, hiking, swimming are but a few of what's available. But at the time we were there, we enjoyed the dragon boat races very much because of its intensity, energy and the camaraderie between the teams. 

The hotel has its own Blue Horizon Cafe that offers a great deal that goes: you choose any main course from over 10 scrumptious meals in the menu and you may be open to an eat all you can appetiser and dessert buffet. Their cakes are guaranteed home made but you may find their appetisers limited.

This is where they serve the breakfast also from 7am to 10pm. Variety is not that much. But I love how the place lights up every morning. After a sip of coffee, the surrounding neighbourhoods also instantly becomes lively. 

TRANSPORTATION:

Situated in the cultural part of Mui Wo, Silvermine Beach Resort can be reached in so many ways. Being 45 minutes away from the airport (via a cab), the hotel opens up to this scenery right away that's why the hotel doesn't have a drop off area for guests coming in riding a cab. That limitation goes for uber and gogovans as well. We rode a blue cab towards the hotel and it amounted around HK$180+.

It was a little bit of a hassle since I was with my weekend luggages, a stroller, and my baby and it was raining hard that day that we were going to check in. We had to walk towards the front by foot. There was no covered walk leading to the hotel.  There was no pavement to avoid the puddles nor to roll the luggages onto. It could've been a big help if those were present. Also, we had to ask from people where the hotel is as we got off the cab. I'm sure there was a sign but we could use a good big sign during a rainy day.

Mui Wo buses to and fro Tung Chung is available at a station located behind the hotel. This is for those who wanted to have an access to the MTR station. The schedule can be checked thru their website: www.silvermineresort.com. But the front desk has a posted schedule for everybody to see. Look for 3M as per public transport. Across the bus station is the blue taxi stand. So it's pretty accessible this way by land. You can check the fare for adults, kids, seniors and students by clicking here.

On the other hand, for a faster travel to the city, you can take the ferry. It costs HK$29/adult during the weekdays and then triple during the weekends. There's what they call the slow ferry which is a given. It usually takes longer to go to the city via this slow ferry than the other one but it's cheaper. 3 year olds and below are free. One way journey usually takes 30 minutes.

ACCOMODATION:

I like how tidy and well lit the halls are.

The hotel is composed of 128 rooms and the 3 storey hotel is secured with electronic doors. The halls are also secured with a main door in a way that only key holders have an access to in addition to each electronic door locks. Apart from the big bed and complete amenities, the comfort it brought to my family was fairly good.

the basic toiletries provided

The bathroom was comfortably spacious without any problems in its plumbing. It was kid friendly too with its anti-skid tiles and the sink counter is big enough to hold my make up kit and many more. I am just obsessive compulsive in terms of the toiletries I need but for a backpacker, it is truly sustaining with all the basics they provided.

There's a garden where my daughter had fun lingering in because of the swing. There are bikes that can be borrowed to go around town and a spa is available to guests starting from HK$280+ up.

Hotel policies include:

1. Check in time: 3:00 PM

2. Check out time: 12:00 PM (and then every extended hour will be charged HK$500)

3. Breakfast is from 7am - 10am.

4. Room rates are subject to 10% service charge.

5. If booking cancellation would be done 72 hours before the arrival date, no cancellation fee will be charged. But if the booking is cancelled within 72 hours (3 days) before the arrival date, one day of daily rental with the rack rate will be applied as late cancellation penalty.

Garden View

6. Room reserved or charged at discounted rate cannot be cancelled nor cannot be refunded.

7. Amendment of the booking within 72 hours before the arrival date is not allowed. One day of daily rental with the rack rate will be applied as late amendment penalty.

8. The booking can only be amended at least 72 hours before the arrival date. The change is subjected to the hotel's availability and the rate may be revised.

9. Room reserved or charged at discounted rate is non-amendable.

10. VALID HKID card or passport should be presented upon guest check-in.

11. In case of no show, Silvermine will charge first night room rental as a no show penalty.

12. All payment will need to be settled upon checking in.

13. Like any hotels, a deposit will have to be made apart from the rack rate paid upon checking in. At the time we availed of their Front Beach View room, the deposit amounted to HK$500 for the entire 2 nights stay we did.

DINING:

The hotel has the Seashore cuisine where breakfast is served daily from 7am to 10pm. Again, it can be accessed only by the guests with a room key so that's how they track those who are entitled to breakfast. Almost all of the accommodation fee includes breakfast anyways. So it's unlikely that safety would be compromised since I observed leniency on who comes in and out of the restaurant.

We just had to document my daughter's face.

I find the selection pretty limited when the ambiance completely gives the bed and breakfast vibe. I wasn't really eager to eating what I usually see everyday at work. But it seems that that's the only thing available. The view is spectacular though and their coffee was tasty. My daughter loved every minute of breakfast because the restaurant was spacious and well lit. It elated her mood.

The Seashore cuisine restaurant is open to an all-day-dining from 7am to 12midnight. They offer Afternoon Tea Set and Saturday BBQ buffet. It aims to cater to each guest's cravings by offering Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Western and fusion dishes in the menu.

me and my friend Joanne before she hits off to the races

When you step out of the restaurant to the terrace, the Blue Horizon cafe awaits where we had lunch during the day of the races. Probably since it was raining the day before, we were eaten too by bugs. Because as soon as the weather became warmer, Hong Kong releases these nasty ones.

Yes, we're being attacked by bugs right about this time.

Lastly, the Bayview lounge offers soothing music, relaxing ambiance and a wide selection of international beer. It has a bar for guests to enjoy and a vibe that will help you unwind.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Swimming is the number one suggested activity of the hotel. The beach is inviting to tourists who would want to have a tan, a walk or just to get inspired. In the evening, a herd of carabaos come by to take some rest on the cool sand.

Rental bikes and maps are available for those who want to do mountain biking, trekking and hiking. Non-Motorised water sports are also available such as kayaking, canoeing, and stand up paddle surfing. At the moment we were in the area, the dragon boat races had kept everybody preoccupied.

Snorkeling, boating and scuba diving can be arranged privately but own personal equipments should be brought in.

PERSONAL CRITIC:

My daughter, securing a cozy space all to herself the moment we
stepped inside the room.

In general, for the location, facilities and service, I truly feel that the booking fee per night is too pricey. HK$700/night without any shuttle service privilege, no wifi, and no change of toiletries when we stayed there for 2 days. 

The cleaners also took a lot of time in cleaning up the room during the morning when we had breakfast. I was expecting that by the time we get back from a good brekky and a walk (most especially if I had left the door sign that says, "Please clean up room"), the room would be cleaned up. But to my disappointment, it wasn't so I had to call downstairs for the refill on tissue, toiletries and new towels.

When we availed of the semi buffet, we were asking for help with the bugs. Unfortunately, when we asked for assistance, they didn't have any form of mosquito repellant. They just shrugged their shoulders to us and just said, you can eat inside if you're in any way uncomfortable here. We really wanted to enjoy the sunset while eating by the terrace. It didn't happen for me and my friends.

The hotel policies was a little bit too much when they tried to impose it most especially the HK$500/additional hour if you check out late but in the end, it was pretty kind of them to be flexible  in consideration. A friend of ours was tied up with the races at the moment that they were supposed to check out. They understood the situation he was in when he explained so he was not charged.

For an overall rating, I give it a 6.5 out of 10. The place was nicely renovated, awarded Resort Hotel of the Year 2016 by GHM Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau General Hotel Managers' Society and most of all, feels secure but I'm sure it still needs a lot of improvement with their guest service. Though there's a competition with the carabaos in the afternoon for some space at the beach, it is the best way to get close to nature anyway. So it's all good. Hygiene wise whether it's alright to lay down on the beach without dealing with any s#!+ on the sand, or even to swim where the carabaos swim, that I can't guarantee. The good things about this experience would be, my baby felt great about our stay, my husband got enough rest and we're altogether in experiencing Silvermine Beach Resort.

Dinner at La Pizzeria, Mui Wo

Related posts:

1. PICO DE LORO RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB - a serene, private getaway for a hardworking bunch located in Batangas, Philippines

2. ANGSANA LAGUNA, PHUKET - Still on the lookout for a place to go for honeymoon? Check out this place where my husband and I had spent ours in when we visited the beautiful Phuket.

3. THE VENETIAN - If there is something that you should experience in going to Macau, it should be, to spend time in The Venetian hotel.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HONG KONG THIS JUNE 2016

Are you ready for Summer 2016 here in Hong Kong? Well, if you had been wearing your shades, sandals and sunscreen, you have set the pace quite right. In addition to your junk boat trips and hiking schedules, check these events out that is surely worth of your time...

1. Do you have any clothes that you don't know how to deal with? You tried to sell, couldn't find the courage to throw or waiting for it to go retro to be retrieved? You also just couldn't find it in you to just put it to waste and you want to remain eco-friendly. Well, here's an answer to your dilemma. RAFFLES INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL once again offers a one time big time Sustainable Design Workshop!

This FREE workshop has 15 seats open to a first come first served basis. It would be conducted by their own director, Stefan Orschel-Read, whom I had the opportunity to meet when I attended an intimate gala night with the school's alumnus, Grace CY Lam and less than 30 combined bloggers, fashion design enthusiasts and expectators. Grace CY Lam had represented her collection in Fashion Week, Vancouver last March of 2016. Details of this workshop is as follows. Hurry! If you make it on time, you can bring along a friend too!

This workshop will be held at 1/F, Centre Point, 181-185 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. You will learn in this workshop how to do:
- Zero-Waste Pattern Cutting
- Unused Materials Crafting
- Fashion Draping

2. DISCOVERY BAY is making way for the dragon boats this June 9 and that means bargains and booze are at play by the plaza. Turn the usual Ladies' Night to an action packed Thursday! The event starts in the morning and right before the awarding ceremony, TEAM MUSHU, the team representing Disney would be giving out a cheerleading number complete with stunts, basket tosses and split jumps. What's remarkable about it is that they will do this right after they paddle their hearts out to the sea to do what they do best, win! Will they make it this year? Come out and see for yourself!

3. Speaking of Disney, rumors of the Star Wars invasion is about to happen 11th of this month at HONG KONG DISNEYLAND.

So Star Wars fans, get ready to be trained as the Temple of the Jedi is about to happen. Visit the park, put together your own personalised Lightsaber and open your eyes for a chance to get immersed to their world!

Characters from the movie will be out for a meet and greet and I believe, a ride was transformed too! A one true exciting event that is good for the whole family to enjoy!

4. MACAU won't be second in all of these excitement. From July 22 until August 7, "SHREK, THE MUSICAL" will be performing for the first time here in Asia as part of its international tour. While the parents enjoy a day or two in Venetian rooms, the kids get to be exposed in a live broadway performance. Details of packages, pricing and show times maybe checked out by clicking here.

5. Summer days are the best days to feel mother earth's presence. And central harbour front opens its location to yoga classes and meditation sessions. Shut down your phones and get reconnected with nature. Increase your dedication to fitness by joining this 2 day (June 25 and 26) event. Who knows? You might win a friend or two!

Please do register here: https://cue.pouchnation.com/event/iris

6. Hong Kong hails its Chinese culture thru the CHINESE OPERA FESTIVAL as it encapsulates the long history of China. From June 17 to August 14, 2016, performances will happen at the following venues:
 - The Grand Theatre at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at the TST Promenade
 - The Hong Kong City Hall in Central
 - The Hong Kong Space Museum
Tickets cost from HK$100 to HK$350 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre but the tickets for a Chinese Opera Film Show at the Hong Kong Space Museum are HK$30. Students and seniors get discounts!

7. Calling all fans of AIR SUPPLY Live on Tour, they will be having a concert on June 19, here in Hong Kong, at 8pm. It will be held in Star Hall (KITEC) in Kowloon Bay. Tickets and prices may be checked and booked here.

8. Hong Kong is not just rich in culture but they are also rich in arts.

More freebies (or either, it is offered at very low prizes) to those who are willing to get immersed deeper into the Chinese culture thru Tai Chi Classes, Lion Dance and Feng Shui Classes. Corresponding areas of the brain may need to be fed even though school is out so why not learn a different skill?

THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS! A GREAT START UP FOR SUMMER!

Related posts:

1. RAFFLES SCHOOL OF DESIGN - my post about an in depth query about Grace CY Lam's, a law graduate, evening gown collection represented Hong Kong at the Vancouver Fashion Week earlier this year.
2. MY CROSSFIT EXPERIENCE AT FITNESS ACADEMY HK - a post to inspire moms in rediscovering and innovating themselves thru a fitness regime!
3. BEING PART OF THE TEAM MUSHU - why joining Team Mushu was one of the best moments of my life.

PICO DE LORO BEACH RESORT AND COUNTRY CLUB

In the Philippines, April and May are the best months to go and explore beaches and resorts. I can't wait to share to you where I had brought my daughter to, during her first visit of my home country.

Hamilo Coast holding the Pico Sands Hotel,
 and the Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club

The salty warm sea breeze welcomed me upon reaching Pico De Loro Beach and Country Club. My eyes squinted with how the sun reflected thru the white sand and attacked my iris with a splendour of the Hamilo Coast's vast horizon. I was engulfing the scenery when I got distracted with a volleyball toss made on my left periphery and it instantly pulled me back into reality hearing my aunt's echoing voice regarding checking in.

Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club is strictly for its members only based on the regulations set for shareholders. However, the resort opens up a part for those who want to experience a great getaway as guests for a fair chance with one of Batangas' assets. In order to set this identification properly, they give you a water proof wristband that should not be in any way removed while you use the resort's facilities. It is actually to distinguish a guest from a member, where members get a full access to the country club's exclusive pool in mind. My auntie had to check that everyone got the wrist bands on just so nobody would be outcasted. Personally, it felt too much but they are concerned with everybody's safety so I complied. This wristband changes colour everyday. Once it gets tampered, damaged or broken, it may compromise your identification, and that's when we are adviced to collect a new one as soon as possible from the front desk, sans the whole process of checking the registered name. Yes, before arriving to the Philippines, around 4 days before, as soon as I confirmed to my cousin that we'll be joining them to this fun getaway, our complete names and birthdays were asked. This is to ensure the person's registration.

So much for that stressful checking of accommodation, allow me to give you a little bit of a trivia why it is called Pico De Loro Cove.

I hope the image had given it justice. So many hikers had documented their achievement of the hilltop but nobody shows the parrot beak like this. In addition to its name, the Hamilo coast where the resort was built and constructed is estimated to be holding 3 coves that have been declared Marine

Diving and snorkelling with my cousins.

Protected Areas (MPA's). Their coves are preserved and well kept. We had rented out a boat to take us into different coves and it was something that I didn't do for a long time. We had visited a private beach along one of the cove's beautiful white sand coasts and it was like a miniature of Boracay's Station 1.

As we started going for a dive, I noticed that the water wasn't that salty. As we stopped meters away from the beach to swim, my uncle noticed that there was not much to see when snorkelling. It was too clean. There were no corals whatsoever. Fishes are around but I think it's because of the bread that they are expecting from the people that stop here. Although it had been said, that 17 species of sea animals can be found in Hamilo coast, I think this can be observed way far off the beaches.

They said many Filipino celebrities rent a property situated around the area for a good month just to rest. It is pricier in this coast than everywhere else because you need to ride a motor boat to get there and it is a private property. It is good to share that Pico De Loro Cove is part of the VERDE ISLAND PASSAGE, a crucial centre of marine bio-diversity within the coral triangle. With its 5900 hectares of land area, only 1/3 is developable. This serves the right of the land to be preserved and remain untouched. That's why it's recommendable to those who are seeking rejuvenation. Nature feeds the souls of those who would be coming here and I assume, all of us from time to time need this.

It is attractive to the preoccupied population in the metropolis because it is estimated to be just a 90-minute drive from SM Mall of Asia. It is the perfect choice for those who wants to take a breath out of office work. The place is family friendly, safe and serene. The sand doesn't match up with Boracay's (It's as white but after facing extreme heat from the sun, it's too hot to step on it barefooted. In Boracay, no matter how hot, it's not painful to the soles, it still remains cool.) but the view is exceptional.

There are over 40 activities you could do here in Pico De Loro naming some: snorkelling, boating, hiking, waterskiing, aqua zumba, pony tour ride and beach volleyball. Besides a haven for people who are dying of having time to unwind, it is open for wedding events since they have the venue for every choice you are considering. A beach wedding, garden wedding or church wedding. It got nice spots to do your pre-nuptial photos too. And there are areas where office and/or corporate meetings can be held. 

That being said, they have a lot to offer guests in terms of dining places. Being balikbayans, my cousin from the States came up with the best idea.... to have a boodle fight by the beach. So, we had asked the staff to prepare one for us as it is available in the menu. To my other cousin's estimate, for a Php700+ arrangement, I am sad to say, he found the meal dissatisfying. But here's why:

The menu assured that the food can be shared amongst 10 people but considering our anacondas, and the activities which we did earlier that day, it wasn't going to be enough for 10 people. Most of the activities are physically demanding. It's expected that guests would have a big appetite you see. But some items like tomatoes, boiled salted eggs, eggplants and some other bbq items are not present. It was my first time to actually be in a boodle fight so I don't have that much for comparison. But I am aware of what should be there. For reference if you want to include this in your itinerary as you visit the resort, let me post this picture.

Boodle Fight is a military style of eating where long tables are prepared and food are put on banana leaves.
Viands and rice are ready to eat using bare hands, jugs of water are prepared on the sides
to wash hands before the "eating combat".
With the signal to start the boodle fight, everybody aims for his/her position.
- URBAN DICTIONARY

If you highlight the whole food presentation, it looks satisfying
but it looks miniature in front of us. What do you think?

We also tried dining in the resort's Sun Coral Cafe which offered delicious Filipino dishes and a variety of international cuisines. One of the dishes that ignited my taste buds was tinolang manok but using squash to thicken the soup. Dining in Sun Coral Cafe maybe enjoyed al fresco or by the Reef Bar or pool bar. The Reef Bar is facing the beach where we had the boodle fight.

We chose to dine in Sun Coral Cafe after more than a 2 hour drive from Manila.
Sun Coral Cafe didn't fail us.    

-the view of the Reef Bar coming from the beach shore-
It is pretty setup romantically.

As I returned to home-Kong, I craved for it instantly and I had to ask our yaya to cook it because of that lingering sensation in my head. My buccal cavity welled up with saliva as I thought about the thick chicken soup boiled slowly with squash. I never had that before in my life. I thought it was such a great combination. My daughter loved it too. 

Since my family and I were staying for one night only, we couldn't let a chance pass of night swimming. There was not much people at the time we visited the resort so we pretty much dominated the kiddie pool. We were pretty disappointed when our big floats were prohibited to be used in their pool. And they were very strict as per swimsuits to be used when actually taking a dip. No long shorts, and no t-shirts. I think it was just right to impose this.

To go around the area, there were shuttle rides that stop every 10mins at each building. We were staying at my aunt's colleague's unit located at Jacana. It was said that Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club are owned by SM Primary Holdings. That's why if you'd notice, the so called 90-minute getaway's starting point is from the SM Mall of Asia and their souvenir shop is actually "Kultura" which could only be seen in the SM department stores.

There are so many available units via Airbnb that you could rent if you're planning to visit this remarkable resort. Here are some of the model units you can also look at if you are considering being an owner of one of the units someday.

The hotel can be seen in Agoda as well and the room rates starts from HK$800 up. This price includes breakfast and free wifi. I am going to limit the information to that because nowadays, those are the 2 important things guests ask anyway. Based on research, kids as long as they would use the existing beddings, are free. Until those who are 11 years old. The usual, you check in at 2pm and check out at noon.

A piece of advice from me, units in airbnb got the advantage of offering you a fully furnished kitchen which may help you in saving up with food. If you plan to stay here for a week or two, may I suggest that you combine dining out (since there's no more rewarding than eating fresh grilled seafood by the beach) with cooking your food and eating indoors. If you have kids, make sure you stock up the fridge with snacks and bottled water. You don't want to risk them being cranky because of hunger or dehydrated because of getting a day in the beach. Watch out also for bees that may sting you. The flowers around the units harbour beehives.

Here's a sneak peak of the whole place. Credits to my cousin, JP Gloda for this video.

Pico De Loro had allowed my daughter to bond with my family whom she just knew for the first time as she visited the Philippines for the first time as well. I am thankful for their warmth that made a good trip possible. This vacation will be remembered so well as the great getaway post nuptial of my cousin. Like Angsana Laguna, Pico De Loro Resort and Country Club is a beautiful family friendly place to visit. I give it 5 stars.

Standing at the middle of
the Pico De Loro Resort and
Country Club where residences
and a hotel surrounds this lovely river.

Related posts:

1. ANGSANA LAGUNA, PHUKET - this is one resort that holds everything. You don't need to go out for activities. My husband and I had our honeymoon here. And it provided us the best relaxing vacation ever.

2. GRAND COLOANE RESORT, MACAU - If you're aiming to have a relaxing getaway and some golf from the hustles and bustles in Hong Kong, Macau is not just about gambling and parties. You might want to stay in the serene Grand Coloane Resort.

3. A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO SUCCESSFUL STOCK INVESTING WITH THE EIP COL EASY INVESTMENT PROGRAM OF THE PHILIPPINES - I am proud to say that I am a shareholder of SM, find out how I did it here.

HOW A YOUNG GIRL'S VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH APPLIES ISAAC NEWTON'S LAW OF MOTION TO LIFE

In the Philippines, Summer season starts during the month of April and it completes as the month of May ends. That means thousands of graduates are expected to either pursue higher learning or employment around this time. Since I left the academe, I became solely focused on entertainment addressing my shift of career. I constantly keep abreast with this kind of moments though and I would like to inspire you of what my godfather's daughter had spoken about in her valedictorian speech that I believe may help us in so many ways.

It goes:

"These past years, I have applied some basic math principles to survive. If there's one thing I learned in Math, it is that every problem has a solution.

I added the positives. I am forever grateful for my God-given talents and continually worked on improving them. I could always count on the support of my family and friends and the patience and dedication of my dear teachers.

I subtracted the negatives. When you subtract a negative number, it becomes positive. I tried to take criticisms constructively. I worked on overcoming my flaws and weaknesses. I considered problems as challenges to be solved. I looked at my detractors as irrational numbers and simply accepted the fact that they are non-terminating or never ending.

I multiplied. I multiplied my efforts and tried to be more productive. I multiplied the love I gave and friendships I offered and received much greater products.

When I am overwhelmed with so much to do, I divided. I divided huge tasks into smaller and simpler tasks and conquered. I managed my time wisely.

I started with Math and would like to end with what we just learned in Science - Newton's Laws of Motion.

The first law, the Law of Inertia, says an object in motion stays in motion. Today, we achieved our goals and dreams but we should never rest on our laurels. Let us continuously enhance our skills and apply what we have learned to our lives.

The 3rd law, the law of Interaction, states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. You reap what you sow. The harder we work, the more fruits our labor will bear.

Saving the best for last again, I go back to the 2nd law. The Law of Acceleration tells us that the greater the force and the lesser the mass, the faster the accelerations. Let us thank the focus behind our acceleration, our progress and success - our parents, our teachers, school administrators and staff, and friends. Cliche as it may sound, I would not be here delivering this speech if it were not for the unconditional love and support my parents gave me. I would also like to thank my brother Renzo who teases me often to challenge me and toughen me. Lastly, I will be forever thankful for all the blessing of the highest, greatest and most powerful Divine force - God. On the other hand, let us leave behind all the mass or weight that pulls us down so we can accelerate and soar higher. As our graduation song says, let us all "reach for the sky".

Thank you and congratulations to all of us!"

- Patricia Tan

Reading this had inspired me in more ways than one. And it's good to be reminded of the lessons I've learned before in the classroom that I may have just brushed off the moment I had gone to the next year of learning. Patricia has a special way of looking at things. She is gifted to associate some scientific laws to everyday life. And I got to meet her intact with sweetness and innocence that instantly makes her smile gleam in a crowd. I don't have doubts that she'll be imparting this to young kids in the future being in the academe as well. She is a ball of energy full of potential and influence. I, myself, got influenced.

Patricia and her mom, Ninang Joy when they visited me in the
happiest place on earth.
She graduated from Chiang Kai Shek College.
She received the honours from both English
and Chinese Graduation.

Related posts:

1. LOOK UP - watch this very touching video about what we miss in life as we google.
2. WE ALL DON'T WANT TO BE JUDGED - There's a story behind every personality. Know who are the ones who have to right to judge.
3. LIVING THE DREAM - Get inspired further by reading about this personas as they make their dreams into reality thru their business ventures.

50 SHADES THE MUSICAL PARODY IN MANILA

It is truly rejuvenating to inhale other people's talent in when you are on a break. As a performing artist, I see to it that from time to time, I allow myself to be part of the audience. It gives me a refreshed approach on my usual routines and attacks.

While in Manila for an audition, I took the liberty of seeing one of the most sought after production from the humorous writer/producer, Emily Dorezas. While 50 Shades The Musical Parody is not authorised to be connected at all to the writer, E.L. James' novel, "50 Shades of Grey", in any way, it does give its audience an impact of how influential it had become in general. From its lines that is distinct to the book's storyline, to the indigenous reaction of every woman who reads it, was portrayed confidently.

I have been a long time fan of:
Loi Martinez, who played as Christian Grey
and I was in awe with how talented and skilled
Brennha Wahl is as she played Anastasia Steele.
(both were colleagues from the happiest place on Earth)

"50 Shades the Musical Parody" opens the show somehow from the reader's point of view. Three friends are keeping attuned to how far each of them have been reading the book. Society had become jittery once they had gotten hold of the mystery of the book when it first got released. Until everybody knows what it's about and then it became all of a sudden, embarrassing to be seen reading  it in public.

Some parts got magnified and everything was almost kept the same about the story, except that it was given a huge twist. Instead of a beautiful Grey as described in the book, the show had produced an opposing being: stout, no way sexy, exaggeratedly allergic to getting held and wears a disturbing wrestling unitard in going to the gym. LOL with that alone. While Anastasia was played to be ridiculously stupid and naively virgin, the combination of both humorous roles were superb. Supported by a talented cast, I felt like I was in the most high end comedy bar.

us former Whiplash dancers,
with my idol, Ms. Bituin Escalante

I am amazed with my colleague Kimberly Ann Mendoza who called the show that night. A shoutout to her, as a budding stage manager for allowing us to indulge in this show taking photos with almost everybody. I was able to keep in touch with a long time idol, Miss Bituin Escalante whom I have looked up to since I was in grade school. A versatile singer, performer and theatre actress. It was such an honour to have shared a stage with her once when I was still with Whiplash during my younger years.

On top of that, these performers were definitely aimed to please the audience with its funny and catchy lines, sans the lyrics of the song, "I have a hole inside of me." Yet they were true to their talent. Their belting skills raised me some goosebumps and Isaac Saleh's chaine turns left me in awe as it all looks serious yet funny. The irony is just but crisp as the script.

Overall, I recommend that you watch it for its last night, Mar. 20 at the RCBC Theatre in Makati. Except if you find obscene sense of humor quite not your thing, a good laugh may serve you well. It was everything that I got from this 2 hour production. And it was worth going home to Manila for it!

Congratulations to the cast of 50 Shades The Musical Parody
together with a budding stage manager, Kimberly Ann Mendoza.
Special shoutout to colleagues, Loi Martinez, Brenna Wahl, Isaac Saleh and Miss Bituin Escalante,
"Good job and keep it up!"

Related posts:
1. SIGNED, A 32 YEAR OLD - Watch this sweet video of what each age group advises another in terms of living life to the fullest. It's interesting to hear out what each of us has to say.
2. WORKSHOPS AND AUDITIONS THIS MARCH - Attend a free financial seminar, learn from an avante grade photographer and try your luck in getting to the West End.
3. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE - Love TED talks? This could help you out in making it from Point A to Point B in terms of your goals in life.

WORKSHOPS AND AUDITIONS THIS MARCH

I am inspired to write this post while watching "Jobs". A movie about this millennium's greatest innovator, Steve Jobs. There are so many things in this lifetime that we ought to take for granted. Nowadays, something free is misunderstood for something that can be thrown out to trash. And a lot of people think that when they pay a high price for something, it's always worth it to have it, may it be experience or commodity. The thing is, whether it is free or expensive in monetary sense, the connection of it to achieving your goal is what it's all about. Steve Jobs was able to connect a gadget to a person. How? By following his vision of making it happen. This March, there are a lot of opportunities that may help you realise what you are passionate about.

in Hong Kong...

with TGFI's Floi Wycoco

Let me start off with my own passion for dreaming of a financially literate Philippines. This March 20, there's a free talk from non other than Mr. Floi Wycoco, the CEO and founder of The Global Filipino Investors (TGFI) whom we got to meet last year in the workplace on the side, while on vacation with his wife at the happiest place on earth. With his dedication to extending help to those who want to help themselves to be financially secure, he had made himself available that day to push our momentum into creating a Hong Kong chapter for TGFI. There are a lot of overseas Filipino workers here in Hong Kong who are neglectful of the importance of having an insurance, having an emergency fund and most of all, the importance of being financially free. To that, allow me to encourage you to attend this introductory talk about financial education. In collaboration with my good friend's own advocacy, the Spearhead Mission, TGFI and the Philippine Consulate invites every Filipino to this event. Check out the posters below and please do share it to the rest of your Filipino friends.

To follow that up with certainly an opportunity to start off your journey to financial freedom, here's another free seminar in the afternoon of the same day. Trust me that there's no selling involved here. It's just pure knowledge available for all who desire to be truly rich.

in Manila...

Photography requires a visionary alright. In my own opinion, every captured moment is a timeless art. Moreover, it tells a story.

This Mar. 12, in UP Diliman, I am proud that a colleague of mine from work, Martina Manalo will be holding a photography workshop that you may find helpful as she talks about how to keep all focus to the subject and how important building an online portfolio could help you showcase your work.

Details of this workshop series are on the poster below. Do remember to register by clicking on this link: http://tinyurl.com/OPTICSWorkshops2016.

Fees are at HK$150/workshop. Do contact 0917-631-1400.

Last but not the least, you could pursue your dream of becoming a performing artist by chasing them. Get in these auditions if you think you have what it takes to be the next Lea Salonga.

Related posts:
1. HOW TO SAVE HK$5000 IN 52 WEEKS - Here is a guide in developing a habit of saving.
2. TEST YOUR FINANCIAL FITNESS - You can only say you're rich if you are complete with these.... Take this test if you want to know your financial status.
3. RAFFLES SCHOOL OF DESIGN - if you want to pursue a career in design, check my experience with their fashion design alumnus last February, 2016.