S–U–M–M–E–R Time flies fast. We didn’t notice that the best time of the year is approaching. After the long cold season that we experienced; it’s now time to hide all the jackets, hoodies, and coats that we used to use because of the extended cool breeze that we can feel. Finally! Summer is coming; so bring out the board shorts and swimsuit to flaunt in the beach.     Now is the right time to plan a perfect getaway with friends and family. In summer, many family plans a holiday that each members will consider to be memorable. Some people really like spending their time with nature such as camping, going on a picnic, spending time on the mountains, and even going to the beach. The weather also adds extra humidity which forces people to look forward to diving into cold water while grilling food at the beach front. It’s …

Tagaytay’s Name: What does it mean?   The story goes like this. A father and son went on a hunt. Their prey is the Wild Boar. The Wild Boar is a fierce animal; when provoked, it can take down a grown man. As the enraged beast charged toward the father, the child cried “Taga (slash) itay! (father)”, “Father hack it!”. The boar was bested by the duo. And the city’s name came to be. City College of Tagaytay, an educational institution located just a few meters away from Face to Face uses the Wild Boar as its team name/symbol — the CCT Wild Boars. Now being improved, the college will have more of the glorious animal. At least 3 sculpted boar heads are found near the gate which is still under construction.

La Botella There are times when we want to drink our worries away somewhere less crowded and less noisy. One place that you can visit here in Tagaytay is La Botella Restobar. It is located right across the famous and usually packed Papa Dom’s Bar and Restaurant. This place does not attract throngs of people. It has a homier ambiance and is definitely stylish. Adorning the ceilings are colorful lights fashioned from recycled bottles – hence the name La Botella. There is even a dedicated wall filled with a kaleidoscope of bottles. It’s a very nice background for taking Instagram pictures! They have a variety of food options and are not limited to finger food that goes well with alcohol. There is also a cornucopia of alcoholic beverages. The prices are affordable and definitely suitable to the offerings’ taste and portioning. It’s a great place to hang out and talk …

The Gift of Netflix One of the questions I often get asked is how old I was when I started studying English. It would then be followed by how I learned English at a very young age. The answer of course will always be the same, and I would also always tell my students that many Filipinos learn the language watching English TV programs, may it be cartoons, movies, or series. Thanks to someone, these English programs have just arrived at our doorsteps. Everybody, meet Netflix.   Whether you are trying to improve your listening skill, or you want to improve your vocabulary, or hone your pronunciation skill, you can do that in your own pace and time while watching movies on Netflix. You can make an account and pay it monthly. The good thing is that you can share it with up to 4 other people, so you are …

Honey    What food doesn’t spoil? Honey  is the only food that doesn’t spoil while in an edible state.   Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm is a pleasant stop-off along Aguinaldo Highway away from the bustling city. Named in honor of the Virgin Mary who is said to have caused innumerable mysteries to the place, Ilog Maria engages in natural and handcrafted beeswax products that have salubrious and therapeutic properties.   What are the benefits of honey?     Honey is used as home remedy to relieve cold and cough symptoms.    Drinking warm lemon water mixed with honey can soothe a sore throat.     Honey is a substitute for sugar.    It has a lower value than sugar as it does not raise blood sugar levels quickly.     Honey is rich in antioxidants.    It reduces risks of heart attacks, strokes, and some types of cancer.     Honey nourishes skin …

Creating Possibilities in the Philippines When you travel, baggage becomes a problem especially if it’s a trip abroad. It’s annoying to carry heavy stuffs while wandering around trying to look elegant. You might end up having a long discussion with the airport staffs because of your excess luggage, too. It’s troublesome. Your goal is to relax and not to find more stress.  No worries! The Philippines has got your back! Aside from its breathtaking views, the Philippines has also a lot of malls that you can visit for your OOTD (outfit of the day) without compromising your budget. One of them is Acienda Designer Outlet Mall. It is the very first authentic international outlet mall in the Philippines. It is located along Aguinaldo Highway in Silang, Cavite; 30 minutes away from Tagaytay. It operates from 11 am to 9 pm. You can find your favorite brands (local and international) at …

PAGMAMANO: A Kiss of Honor What is it about the Philippines that make it different from the rest of the world? Well, for one thing, it is all about Filipino culture. Filipinos are very polite. We have a culture of PAGMAMANO, which is where we raise the back of the hands of their elders to their foreheads as a sign of admiration. Almost the same to hand-kissing, the person giving the greeting bows towards the hand of the elder and presses their forehead on the elder’s hand. This is usually performed with the right hand. The word MANO is Spanish for HAND while the word PO is often used in Filipino culture and language at the end of each sentence as a sign of respect when addressing someone older.It is an ordinary way of building up one’s strong feelings of warmth towards their loved one. What are you waiting for, …

Hi! Today, I will tour you in my healthy lifestyle (hahaha, I am just pretending to be health conscious, but I am not.) Anyways, let’s start. Lemon water is one of my favorites, so let’s go to the lemon world. Lemons can be easily found in the supermarkets. So, if you are on a tight budget, you can make your own lemon water. It’s cheap. Your 20 pesos can buy a piece of lemon.   If you are lazy, you can just buy lemon water in the store which is located at Fora Mall-Supermarket. For 65 pesos, you can have this refreshment. You can also have some adds-ons such as yakult, kiwi, cucumber, orange and calamansi for additional 10 pesos. I personally recommend lemon water with kiwi. It is so refreshing and delicious. Maybe next time, we can go here and try this together.  

The Dining Tables That Never Sleep   Who can say “No” when talking about food? Who doesn’t crave every time you read blogs about different cuisine? And who doesn’t drool over mouthwatering dishes when watching cooking shows? Food is more than survival. With it we make friends, and count our blessings. The sharing of food has always been part of the human story. In the city of Tagaytay some markets have food stalls that do not sleep. Those stalls are in Mahogany Market. They are open 24/7 all year round. Rain or shine, they are always open to serve hungry customers with their delectable dishes. The Cooks and servers often say, “We cook and serve not just tasty food, but we cook and serve with our hearts in it.” Mahogany market food stalls offer various dishes for everyone to enjoy. All ingredients are freshly harvested. The source of meat and …

Volleyball is LIFE! On and off the court…. While I may not have been able to watch volleyball as I would have liked recently, there has been a plenty volleying all around the country. For most if not all conferences, 2019 Grand Prix Second Leg 2019 Volleyball tournament will be held at Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Sta. Rosa City, Calamba from October 4 to 6, 2019. These rematches are fun to watch because you can make predictions based on the last matchups and still be surprised! So, here I am again, and here you are again also – we are all hoping for the best for team Philippines, aren’t we? After having witnessed a lot of bad things in match four between the Philippines and Thailand yesterday, aren’t we getting more and more into the negative circle of volleyball? But don’t you think we are too focused on …