Baliwagenews Travels: Guimaras Island Tour

Baliwagenews Travels

Guimaras Island Tour

Nagbyahe kami mula Cebu papuntang Iloilo. Unang kita ko pa lang ng SeatSale ng Philippine Airlines, nagbook na agad ako. Wala nang isip isip hahaha. Paano ba naman 784 pesos lang roundtrip ticket! Mag-iisip ka pa ba? Kaya isinama ko ang buong pamilya.

*Tip para makapag book ng murang airline ticket? - kapag nakita mo na super mura at seatsale na sa date na nakita mo, wag na mag-isip! I-book na agad... sa mga walang credit o debit card, pwede nmn payment via remittance centers o ang pinaka madali ay via 7/11 (7-eleven) stores. Screenshot everything and bayaran ang reference number.  Ganun lang ka easy, pag walang budget.... ngangaey hahaha sorry next seatsale na lang.

35 minutes lang ang byahe mula Cebu airport hanggang Iloilo airport. Maliit pero malinis ang airport ng Iloilo. Mula naman sa Iloilo City, pwedeng mag jeep o taxi hanggang sa Ortiz Wharf (kung saan sasakay ng ferry/boat papuntang Jordan wharf). Ang pamasahe sa ferry/boat ay 22 pesos para sa regular rate at 18 pesos para sa mga PWD at Senior Citizens. 15 to 20mins lang ay nasa Guimaras Island ka na! Wow! Ang lugar kung nasaan ang sweetest mango. Bakit at paano nila prinoprotektahan ang mga variety nila ng mangga? Malalaman mo sa vlog ko! Watch na dali, may fieldtrip dito at madami kayo matututunan!

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https://www.youtube.com/switiroh

  

Guimaras WindMill Farm

ManMade Forest

Guisi Lighthouse

Ilan lang yan sa mga magagandang lugar doon, at ito pa nga ang bonus. Mawawala ba naman ang FoodTrip ng Mango Dishes??? Dumayo kami sa THE PITSTOP para kumain ng Mango Pizza, Bulalo with Mango, Mango Spaghetti... wow na wow sulit!

Bulalo with mango

Mango Spaghetti

Mango Pizza!

Sa tingin nyo, magugustuhan nyo ba ang mala-Field trip na hatid ng Guimaras Island? Keri nyo kaya ang mga Pagkain? You may comment para sa magrecommend ako ng tour guide para sa Guimaras Tour nyo!

The Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival Rises to Even Greater Heights

The Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival Rises to Even Greater Heights

     Just the mere mention of the Hot Air Balloon Festival at Clark Global City brings to mind the eye-popping visual of larger-than-life gathering of hot air balloons in all shapes and sizes from all over the world. The sky is dotted with giant animals, happy faces, and other improbable flying objects alongside the classic striped hot air balloons. That moment when they all rise up to the sky in the sunrise is one of the most IG-worthy moments we’ll see all year. 

The 2019 Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival set on April 12 to14, within the Clark Global City grounds, promises to be bigger, bolder, busier, and better. Present at the press launch of the are Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival are (L-R) Serafin Tolentino, Safety Officer; Noel Castro, Consultant; Wilfredo Placino, Vice Chairman and President of Global Gateway Development Corp.; Bernie Bituin, Launch Master; and Joel Santos, Balloon Crew Chief.

     This year’s Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival on April 12 to 14 promises to be even bigger, bolder, busier, and better. The event boasts of a bigger and more accessible venue at Clark Global City—a thriving hub of industry and commerce that you can literally get to by air, land, and sea. This event brings people from all walks of life together. Around 50,000 to 70,000 people are expected to come that weekend, from families with young children, teens, students,tourists, to various groups such as motoring clubs, foodies and travel enthusiasts, even real estate groups, and government officials. A jam-packed weekend There will be balloon rides, of course, but the festival also has activities on the ground while people wait for their turn on a balloon, and for those who prefer to stay earthbound. There are over a hundred of food and shopping choices. There are fun activities for kids and families such as inflatable attractions and slides, shows for kids with their favorite cartoon characters. The country’s hottest music acts, along with the best of Pampanga’s bands will take the stage every night over the weekend with the country’s hottest acts—Slapshock on Friday, Kamikazee on Saturday and Ely Buendia,Hale, and Unique Salonga on Sunday. Car and motor sport enthusiasts will gather together for several major events that include the National Drift Championship, Slalom Racing, Philippine Auto Cross Championship Series, Philippine Rally Cross Series and Motorcycle Stunt Show. We’ll also be witnessing groups dancing and grooving to the beat this summer as 20 dance groups from different cities compete on April 13, 2019. The Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival will be a feast for all the senses and a weekend that you wouldn’t want to miss. The Frontrow International Hot Air Balloon Festival hosted by Clark Global City, co-presented by SM City Clark, powered by Phoenix Pulse Technology, supported by Dickies and The Medical City Clark. 

For more information on the event, follow us on (Facebook, Twitter and IG) @clarkglobalcityhabf.

Strawberry de Cantipla Eco Farm

Strawberry de Cantipla 

Eco Farm

Byahe na tayo! Alam nyo ba na hindi lang sa Benguet tumutubo ang mga strawberries? Yes! May ilang malalamig na lugar kung saan pwede na sila tumubo at maparami. Nung mga nakaraang buwan ay akin nang napuntahan ang Strawberry farm sa Dalaguete, Cebu. Ngayon naman ay sa Busay, Cebu ko ito nakita. Ito ang Strawberry de Cantipla Eco Farm. Malamig ang klima sa Busay, Cebu kaya naman hindi nakapagtataka na maaring mabuhay dito ang mga strawberries. 

Nakilala ko ang may-ari ng farm na si Mr. Ariel Ugsimar. Nagumpisa syang marapami ang kanyang strawberries sa isang parte ng lupain sa Brgy. Cantipla. Hindi lang strawberries ang kanyang mga pananim kundi mga "Guapple" (guava-apple), bell peppers, at iba pa. Ipinakita nya rin sa amin ang dalawang puno ng mansanas na kanya nang napalaki mula lamang sa buto. Tunay nga na napaka ganda at mataba ang lupa na maaring matamnan sa lugar na iyon. Nagsimulang buksan sa publiko ang kanyang farm noong April 2018. Sa ngayon, may entrance fee ito na 40 pesos for adults at 20 pesos para sa mga bata na gustong pumunta rito at mamasyal. 

Mula sa kayang Strawberry Farm ay patok din ang kanyang Strawberry Snack Hauz. Maraming specialty snacks na syempre pa ay gawa mula sa Strawberries! Mayron silang Strawberry Ice Cream, Strawberry-Mango Float, Strawberry Leche Flan, Strawberry Shake, at marami pang iba pati na rin ang Burger with Strawberry?!?! Yes! Mayroon sila nyan! 

Strawberry Mango Float

Strawberry Leche Flan

Natakam ba kayo? Abot kaya ang mga presyo ng kanilang mga inihahain dito. Napakasarap din dahil hindi tinipid sa lasa ng strawberries lalo na ang kanilang Strawberry Shake. Kakaibang lasa na  kahit medyo malayo sa syudad ang lugar na ito ay babalik-balikan. 

Exact location: Sitio Cantipla, Brgy. Tabunan, Cebu City (National Transcentral Highway) - about 1 hour away from Cebu City

Para sa tour package dito sa Cebu, visit our page:
https://www.facebook.com/3ZAffordableCebuPackageTour/

Your best trip ever starts with TravelBook.ph's Destination: PH!

TRAVELBOOK.PH LAUNCHES FIRST TRAVEL FAIR ENTITLED DESTINATION: PH

By Hyacinth Uri

TravelBook.ph, one of the country's leading online travel agencies, will be having its first travel fair entitled "Destination: PH" from March 16 to 18, 2018, at the 4th Floor, Activity Center, Century City Mall in Makati. As part of TravelBook.ph's objective to promote the country's most beautiful destinations, this event will be an avenue for customers to get amazing and exciting offers from its hotel and tour partners as well as flight loyalty program partners. Lots of prizes and freebies will also be given away. 

Each event attendee will receive one (1) FREE admission ticket with numerous stubs that will entitle them to discounts on the following hotels when they book through TravelBook.ph: 40% off in Circle Inn Iloilo, Circle Inn Bacolod, Azalea Resorts and Residences Baguio, and Azalea Resorts and Residences Boracay; 30% off in The District Boracay; and PHP 1,000.00 off in all hotel partners for a minimum booking amount of PHP 4,000. In addition to these fabulous discounts at the event, over 100 hotels and tour activities from TravelBook.ph will also be on sale! 

Tourism industry professionals will also be gracing and conducting talks at the three-day event. Among these are Senior Tourism Operations Officer Ms. Azucena Pallugna from the Department of Tourism's (DOT) Office of the Undersecretary for Tourism Development; travel blogger Mr. Arjay Abellara of RJ D Explorer blog; illustrator, designer, travel blogger, and contributing writer for ABS-CBN and Travel Now magazine Ms. Sheena Gonzales; lifestyle and travel blogger Ms. Arnie Villanueva of Arnie Villanueva blog; and travel blogger Mr. Rogelio Gabiano, Jr. of the Pinoy Travel Freak blog. 

Actor and model Daniel Matsunaga will also be present in the event to share stories of his travel experiences and to participate in a meet-and-greet. Plus, Japanese comedy trio HPN3 from Its Showtime’s The Funny One will entertain the attendees with their hilarious skits. 

TravelBook.ph made it even more exciting as attendees will get a chance to win prizes from the following sponsors: Azalea Hotels and Residences Boracay, Midori Hotel and Casino, Subic Bay Yacht Club, Siglo Suites by Century Properties, The Dessert Museum, Enchanted Kingdom, Zoomanity Group, Inflatable Island, World Traveller Bags and Luggage, AirAsia BIG, GetGo, and Mabuhay Miles. Everyone will also be bringing home some cool freebies!
Interested attendees can pre-register for the event by visiting TravelBook.ph's event page for Destination: PH on Facebook and clicking the pre-registration link under the details section. Each visitor who pre-registers through this link automatically earns a raffle entry for a chance to win an overnight accommodation at Midori Clark Hotel and Casino in Pampanga or Subic Bay Yacht Club with breakfast for two!

Start your summer adventure with TravelBook.ph and have the best travel experience ever! See you there!

STAR CRUISES - Cruising the high seas in effortless indulgence!

STAR CRUISES 

Cruising the high seas in effortless indulgence!

     With the gentle swaying of the sea that seems to lullaby its passengers, a timely cruise can bring a much-needed calmness, even to the weariest of travelers. Just imagine, spending days at sea in complete solitude, staring at the vastness of the open ocean with nary a thought of one’s daily troubles. Days full of exciting possibilities with nowhere to be, no one to see, and best of all, no distractions - a complete cruise-cation to celebrate life. 

The majestic SuperStar Virgo will make Manila its homeport from March to May. The cruise ship offers travelers a visa-free way to visit cities in Taiwan and southern Japan.

In the past decade, cruises have become one of the most popular ways to relax and see the beauty this world has to offer. With its unique destinations, cost-efficient rates, and state-of-the-art ships, it comes as no surprise that cruising continues to gain popularity, especially among Filipinos.

This year, Star Cruises announced that its 269-meter cruise ship, SuperStar Virgo, will homeport again in Manila for the summer months from March to May. With absolutely no visa requirements, the 6-night SuperStar Virgo cruise offers two travel destination packages. The first package will start at the Manila port then a day will be spent on the high seas. The next two days will be dedicated to seeing Naha in Japan, and Keelung in Taiwan. The fifth day will be on the high seas again, and then the cruise will head back to Manila on the sixth day.

The second destination package starts at the Manila port followed by a day cruising the high seas on the way to Ishigaki, Japan, on the third day. The fourth day will be spent seeing the beauty of Keelung, Taiwan, then to the high seas on the fifth day, and then back to Manila on the sixth day.

Besides the great destinations and interesting land tours, a lot of people miss out on the fact that the SuperStar Virgo is itself, a giant floating destination. Packed with entertainment facilities, exquisite dining outlets, and duty-free shopping, the cruise ship has just about anything one could ever need or want.

The nightly live performances on the SuperStar Virgo showcases some of the world’s best singers, acrobats, and magicians, set to tickle one's imagination. What’s more, the cruise offers various options and thematic activities fit for the whole family, not to mention, the wide range of dining outlets, retail shops, relaxation, and entertainment facilities.

The huge pool and giant slide continue to be a top favorite of passengers. Imagine sliding and splashing in the pool on top of a cruise ship, right in the middle of the ocean. And what better way to enjoy an unobstructed view of the perfect sunset gracefully going down the horizon, then to see it on the viewing deck.

Cruising offers the perfect vantage points to take photos of the endless sea complimented by the clear blue sky. It features an unspoiled canvass showcasing the breath-taking magnificence of nature’s beauty. Savor the various sights, sounds, and even the smell of crisp clean air over a cup of freshly brewed tea or coffee, while basking in sweet retreat, solitude, and surrender.

Catch exclusive offers for the 3rd and 4th passenger for free, if booking is for the Inside State Room, Ocean View State Room, or the Balcony State Room on March 30, April 14, 19, and 24, and on May 4, 14, and 29, 2018. There is also a free balcony upgrade during the mid-season sailing.

A 20% additional Senior Citizen discount will likewise be offered on April 14, 19, 24 and on May 4, 14, and 29, 2018. Avail of other special promos including the “Cruise One, Take One” two-for-one summer promo, a 2-night Manila high seas cruise, from February 14 to 18, 2018 at the 2018 Star Cruises Cruise Fair at the Greenbelt 5 Gallery, Ayala Center, Makati City. For inquiries, call (02) 8366080 or visit www.starcruises.com. 

An Exhilarating Whale Shark Watching Experience Only at Oslob, Cebu

Exhilarating? Yes! That is the right word I can describe of what we felt the day we encountered the gentle giants of Oslob, Cebu - The Whale Sharks! Scary? No! But yeah, I admit, at first I felt a little nervous but I am so excited to see them underwater. Told myself that this is my chance to see them, and won't let the day pass without having that awesome experience. And hey, since it was my birthday, I might as well go and enjoy!  

Oslob, Cebu is a 3 to 4-hour drive from Cebu City and the Oslob Whale Shark Watching area is only open from 6 am 'til 11:30 am so we went to Oslob on a Saturday afternoon to be ready for the early trip to the Whale Shark briefing area because from what I've read from blogger friends, we need to be early and ready for the long lines since it was a weekend. Getting ready for the trip, few days before, I booked an overnight stay at a nearby hotel - Ging-Ging Hotel and Resort located at Looc, Oslob, Cebu. 

Ging-Ging Hotel & Resort is truly a place where you can relax while listening to the waves of the sea and appreciating the awesome view. They also have swimming pool, but you can go to the beach also if you want. Rooms and bathrooms are clean, it has TV, AC plus you will really love the view from the veranda.  This is the view from our veranda.

Their food is sumptuous too, my apologies that I wasn't able to take a picture of the Sinigang na Hipon and Beef Broccoli that we've had for our lunch because I am so hungry hahaha. Plus the fact that you really can't resist eating the food they served. But I saved a picture of the Clubhouse Sandwich and Spaghetti Carbonara that we've had on our snack. 

They serve our food hot and fast and their crew was friendly and accommodating. They wear proper uniforms as well. Overall, we enjoyed our stay at Ging-Ging Hotel & Resort, I would really recommend their place. Kudos to all the management and staff of Ging-Ging Hotel & Resort!

As early as 5:30 am, we got up and ready to go at the Whale Shark briefing area. It's only 10-15 minutes away from where we stayed. Upon reaching the place at 6 am, parking spaces are almost full, there are a huge number of tourists already. The first step is to register, then to listen to the 5-minute briefing, after that, you can pay at the cashier. 500 pesos if you are going to swim with the whale sharks (they will provide you with life vests, goggles, and snorkels) and 300 pesos if you will just be sitting on the paddle boat (with life vests of course). But you cannot see the whole size of the Whale Sharks, just their mouths because there are boatmen that are feeding them with "alamang" or the small fishes which are their favorite food. 

And to show you what really happened at our very exhilarating Whale Shark watching experience at Oslob, I've made a video of our close encounter with the Whale Sharks - "Oslob's Gentle Giants" or the "Butanding" for the locals. 

They are so huge! I am a meter close to the Whale Shark that I don't need to zoom my camera just so have a glimpse of them and share with all of you what we saw underwater. I am also amazed how the locals of Oslob, Cebu maintained their beaches. It was crystal clear and you can see corals underwater. And Oh! I also saw lots of small fishes that I only see at the aquarium or the Oceanarium. Even my kids love what they experienced. It's so exhilarating indeed! We are allowed to stay in the water for only 30 minutes, but it is so worth it. I remember 15 to 20 minutes in the water makes my leg itch. I think it is because of the "alamang" or the small fishes that the Whale Sharks are eating. After the 30-minute encounter, they have a shower area. In my case that I have few rashes, so after the shower, I immediately applied a Miracle Oil (that I bought online) on my legs and arms also on my kids to prevent those rashes and it was good because it disappeared immediately. 

Near the briefing area, you can see Sumilon Island. You can have a boat ride going there. Prices range from 1,200 to 2,500 pesos depending on your group size. You can negotiate with the boatmen for the price. 

Sumilon Island

  Outside the briefing area, souvenir items are also available. I bought these adorable whale shark refrigerator magnets, key chains, (priced at 35 pesos or 3 for 100 pesos) and shirts that range from 120 pesos to 350 pesos. Kinda pricey but they're so cute!  

Going home, we saw a street dancing going on at Oslob's SadSad Festival. 

Watched some of the groups, and because of the heavy traffic, we are routed to a different road which surprisingly heads us to Oslob's historical places such as the Cuartel, Baluarte and their church. Museo Oslob is also near the area so we took the opportunity to see them.

CUARTEL
Served as the barracks for the Spanish armies but was halted during the arrival of Americans. 

BALUARTE
One of the seven watchtowers built along the coastline of Oslob. The local people also referred this Baluarte as "Lantawan" or Watchtower.

MUSEO OSLOB
We saw old things here, truly educational. 

Don't forget to buy Lechon and Chicharon at Carcar City, and Buko Pie at San Fernando, Cebu. 

Book your tour with 3Z's Affordable Cebu Package Tours 

City Tour Package:
⛲Fort San Pedro
🏛️Magellan's Cross
🕍Basilica Minore del Sto Niño
🏛️Malacañan sa Sugbo
🏢Cebu Heritage Monument
🏯Taoist Temple
⛩️Temple of Leah
🌹Sirao Garden (entrance fee excluded)

Other destinations in Lapu-Lapu City
⛲Mactan Shrine or Lantaw Floating Restaurant / 10,000 Roses

South Cebu Tour Package:
🐋Whale Shark Encounter
🏝️Sumilon Island Sandbar (boat excluded)
🕍Simala Shrine
⛲Oslob Heritage Park (Baluarte, Cuartel, Oslob Museum)

Other destinations in South Cebu:
*Kawasan Falls (Canyoneering or just the Falls)
*MoalBoal Island hopping (Turtle, Sardines, Dolphins, Pescador island)

Inclusions:
- Pick up and drop off to airport or hotel
- Entrance fees
- Boat rental
- Life vest and snorkels

*Private car 3-4 persons
*Van for 6-15 persons
*We customize and arrange tours
*Down payment of 500 pesos per head 3-5 days of booking schedule.

For rates and inquiries, PM us or
Email: 3zaffordablecebupackagetours@gmail.com
contact #: 09277589749

Off to more adventures in Cebu! 

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