The Girl Behind the Pen

With the rise of social media, finding the best hotels and resorts that feed your aesthetic is easier than ever. But there are times that what’s shown in pictures does not live up to your expectations the moment you set your feet in the property. That’s why, when you’re lucky enough to find a place that truly pleases you, you’re in for a great vacation time. 

Five hours and a half from Manila brings you to a little paradise in Sual, Pangasinan. Situated in the middle of a fishing village, Masamirey Cove Resort boasts of a stunning beach, good food, and chill ambiance — basically everything you’d want to have while you’re on a beach trip. 

The beach overlooks many little islands surrounded by gleaming turquoise blue waters, greeting you with warm crashing waves. Those looking for a pristine beach near Manila to unplug from the bustling city life will find it at the Masamirey Cove Resort. It allows you to enjoy a Boracay-like fine white sand sans the crowd.

While there’s a Balinese edge to this gem in Sual, you’d feel that there’s still Filipino touch. Many of its spaces feature nipa hut cabanas and beach lounge chairs made of bamboos. 

The resort also offers tons of water activities. From kayaking to island-hopping tours, you’ll never run out of things to do in Masamirey. But what I really like most about this resort in Pangasinan is its lounge beds facing the beach. You get to enjoy fresh air, a good amount of sunlight touching your skin, and the beautiful view of the sea. There are trees covering the lounge beds so you can enjoy chilling by the beach at any time of the day without worrying about the sun rays. As much as I want to bring out all the energy I have, the lounge beds are calling me to just stay put. 

As for their food, you’re in for a pleasurable gastronomic experience as everything will give you a bang for your buck. I’m a lover of anything sinigang and to use lechong kawali there delighted me in every possible way. 

Nothing beats discovering new places that did nothing but to satisfy you. There’s no denying, Masamirey Cove Resort is an achiever when it comes to that. 

Masamirey Cove Resort

So now, I will be listing all the details you need to know about Masamirey Cove Resort in Pangasinan. 

Address: Sual, Pangasinan

Family Room Rate: PHP 11,000 per night 

Overall look: 9/10

Hospitality: 9/10

Pets allowed? No

Kids allowed? Yes!

Contact information: You may contact them through their Facebook page. 

Baguio has always been on everyone’s bucket list but IDK, I always wonder: what’s so good about Baguio that people really love? 

Tbh, whenever the chance presents itself to me, I’m always shunning the thought of going there. As soon as Ber months start, my mom would always tell me to book a hotel in Baguio so we can spend Christmas there along with thousands of people thinking the same. I’m always the first one in the family to object. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed my time during my past trips to the Summer Capital. 

I just didn’t fancy traveling 6 hours just to what — be stuck in traffic again or congest the city even more? I’ve been there several times already and each time I visit, it just gets worse. Everywhere I go, there’s a queue for just sightseeing, for getting souvenirs, for getting my fave Good Shepherd ube jam, and even for getting lunch. Does the line ever end? 

In October this year, I gave Baguio another chance. This time, I appreciated it even more. The crowd was still there but not as much as it is during peak seasons. Perhaps, I was too young to appreciate Baguio then. Or maybe I visited at the wrong time. 

Then, every core memory of me in Baguio came running to me — listening to teachers’ many ghost stories before sleeping at what has been said a haunted place, posing beside a white horse with pink hair for a photo op, getting 3 for ₱100 keychains with my name on (I still have them now), getting more sets for my friends and cousins, lining up to get a few jars of ube jam from the Good Shepherd, seeing men with well-sculpted abs and bums dancing along the Session Road wearing a traditional costume at the Panagbenga Festival, seeing my then ultimate crush, Enchong Dee, in person, along with AJ Perez one month before his fatal car accident. 

Come to think of it, those were good days after all. 

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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There are a hundred reasons why travelers dream of visiting Bali, Indonesia. Its picturesque green rice paddies, the luscious rainforests, breathtaking volcanoes, beautiful beaches, and amazing locals — I could go on and on reasoning out how Bali is a perfect tropical destination. But, if a trip to the Island of Gods is beyond your budget right now, or you are still hesitant to go on international trips because of the pandemic, don't worry! There's a villa in Pampanga that will make you feel like you're in Bali.

Located in Porac, Pampanga, The Pad Haven is a two-story villa that screams "Bali vacation." The moment you open its gate, you will be welcomed by its stunning turquoise green pool. Seeing that would immediately have you thinking you are transported to a villa in Bali. If you're traveling with kids, they'll love its 2 ft. dip pool.

As you enter the house, a spacious living area greets you with two sofas, a smart television, an 8-seater dining, and a kitchen bar. The first bedroom is also located on the first floor. It's a crowd-favorite because one, it is huge, and two it has a direct access to the pool. On the second floor, you'll find the other two bedrooms that each, too, has its own bathroom. One has a view of the pool, while the other has a balcony where you can drink your morning coffee, or work till lights out. All of the bedrooms are spacious enough to accommodate 4-5 persons per room. Check this video for the whole villa tour. 

While The Pad Haven meets all your expectations in terms of accommodation and vibe, the place was dusty perhaps because there is an ongoing construction on the other side of the street. I was also disappointed that the internet was not working. A reliable internet connection is one of the things I always consider before booking a place because some of us always have to work (hello, digital nomad life). Other than these, it was a very pleasant stay overall.

Why bandeau swimsuits are perfect for women with small boobs:

1. Fall in love with your swimsuit

2. Accessorize

3. Don't burn calories. Burn your negative thoughts!

There was a time in my life when I felt the odds were in my favor—I had a stable income, a happy soul, and great career opportunities. While the opportunities were beyond what I have imagined, they were overwhelming to the point that I had to let go of some things so dear to me, including my most stable job in one of the Philippines' biggest TV networks.

I did this so that I can pursue my biggest break at that time. But that move was something that terrified me to the bones for many reasons. One, I'll be working with one of the country's most sought-after celebrities; two, it's going to be my first time doing the job; and three, I have nowhere to return to if this project fails. Before and after I said yes to the project, I questioned myself every day if I can really do it. 

Long-overdue update on this post: a lot has been accomplished, and it went well. At first, at least. But after two months, the celebrity decided not to continue it. Therefore, all the production staff (including me) lost this huge project in a snap, without any warning. 

Fast forward to today, I found myself in the same position as I was in years ago. This time, it's a lot more challenging and a lot more terrifying. Just like before, I have to let go of something I've already loved. I have to step out of my comfort zone again to enter a new path. I will be doing something I find most difficult to accomplish. Doing something I’ve tried to avoid for the longest time. And doing something that scares me… again. 

But this has always been me—doing something I was a little not ready to do. 

Well, this is me: saying yes to new things even if it’s absolutely daunting. Saying yes to something that’s totally new to me. I can’t risk letting the opportunity go. So just as it has always been, I said yes and will just figure things out later. Because at the end of the day, I know things will fall into place.

You see, it's okay to be scared. It's normal. 

But if you let your fears stop you, you're not going to grow. 

You might end up spending a lifetime thinking of regrets and what-ifs because of the job you never applied for, the places you never traveled to, the person who got away because you didn't tell him or her how you feel, and the chances you didn't take.

There’s always going to be something that will scare you. It might be touching the head of a puppy, or jumping thousands of feet from above. It might also be letting go of someone dearly. But the most terrifying of all is failure, right? Because what if we fail? What if it doesn't get better?

But what if we don't? 

What if we do it and actually get everything we ever wanted?

You must do the thing you think you cannot do. — Eleanor Roosevelt

Looking back, although I felt like a failure for choosing what I thought was a "wrong" decision at that time, it was only years after that I realize it was a huge lesson and certainly one of the best opportunities I had. It actually led me to bigger things. That project, although short, opened so many doors for me. Did I fail? No! Am I still going to be afraid? Most probably! Will I stop venturing into things I know nothing about? Certainly not! 

My dreams are bigger than my fears. And I hope yours, too. Today, I hope you learn to embrace discomfort. I hope you will allow yourself to grow. I hope you will believe in yourself that you can do it. And finally, I hope you do the thing that scares you.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

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1. CLOUD 9 SIARGAO

2. MAGPUPUNGKO ROCK POOL

3. GUYAM ISLAND

4. NAKED ISLAND

5. DAKU ISLAND

6. SUGBA LAGOON

7. COCONUT ROAD

8. COCONUT ISLAND

9. MAASIN RIVER 

10. SHAKA CAFE

11. YEAH YEAH CUPSICLES