Travelling Ideas: What’s In Your Bag?

photo courtesy of http://www.men-access.com

They say that you will know a person the moment you take a look in his or her bag. (True…)
So as a normal person travelling, what do you have in your bag? Basically what you have will show what kind of traveler you are too.
For years of going around, travelling here and there (everywhere), it just occurred to me one day to take a look at the things I always have in my bag wherever I go – the mall, to church, to work, to the beach, to the mountains, on a road trip, etc…

Inside my bag:

 *wallet (complete with identification cards and some cash, of course)

*cellphone

*point and shoot camera

*keys

*hair brush

*cosmetic bag (complete with lip gloss, lipstick, eyeliner, blush, eyeshadow, curlash, toothbrush, and toothpaste)

*cologne (usually with a citrus-y hint to it)

*camera battery charger

*netbook (sometimes)

*power cord of my netbook (sometimes)

*pens and small notepad

 

So what does this say of me?

Basically, when I looked at all these I realized that I am a person who equips herself with everything so that what I need is readily available for me no matter what the circumstance. If I need to fix up my look or freshen up, I can do so anywhere with my cosmetic bag and cologne – and hairbrush. If I need to take note of something I've got a pen and paper with me. And it shows how important photos are for me – I've actually packed the camera battery's charger in my bag!
And of course, it is a bit obvious that I usually bring my work with me (rather than me going to my work) since I lug a laptop and its power cord with me almost everywhere I go.

So who am I? A traveler by heart who can be quite an "always prepared freak" that brings her work with her because no matter how much she loves to travel and take pictures, she needs to earn a decent wage too. (lol)

Take a look in your bag… Who are you?

First AS1 Concert a Success!

Gary V, a.k.a. Mr. Pure Energy and Martin Nievera charmed Bacolod with their latest concert – the AS1 concert.

As1 brought together two different artists, both loved by millions of fans, and with very different styles. The highly energetic style of Gary V is complemented by the witty, relaxed style of Martin. AS1 was a great show – definitely worth the amount people paid for their tickets.

The AS1 Concert of Martin Nievera and Gary V had its first stop in Bacolod, and the crowd did not disappoint the artists – and vice versa. It was a good start for AS1, and was definitely a great kick off to start the ball rolling. Both artists created great rapport with the fans as they danced and grooved with the audience. AS1 concert showcased both artists' talents highly complementing each other.

Songs sang by Martin Nievera and Gary V included 80's hits like Tears for Fears' Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Filipino teleserye theme songs like those from Lobo, Kahit Isang Saglit, and Tayong Dalawa; and of course, their hit songs through the years that have made them both household names.

So what's the verdict? If you haven't seen the AS1 concert in Bacolod and you still have a chance to see it somewhere else, BUY A TICKET AND WATCH! They'll be in Davao on October 28 and Cebu on the 29^th. It's definitely worth it.

2010 Masskara Festival Schedule

Oct. 1, Friday
7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	* Thanksgiving Mass &Opening Program Federation of Senior Citizens Assn.-Bacolod (FSCAB)	* BAYS Center
1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	* Opening: DepEd Division Athletic and Cultural Meet	* Public Plaza
	* Opening: Boys and Girls Scouts Month	* Public Plaza
3 p.m.	* State of the City Address of Mayor Evelio Leonardia	* New Government Center
	* Opening of the 31st MassKara Festival	* New Government Center
5 p.m.	* Start of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Novena	* San Sebastian Cathedral
5:25 p.m.	* ABS – CBN Live Remote Newscast	* Public Plaza
6 p.m.	* Opening of Festival Sites(with fireworks)	* Public PlazaSM MassKara Village
6 p.m.	* Pray the Rosary	* Skycable Channels 2, 4, 17
6:30 p.m.	* Unveiling of our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Bacolod(with fireworks)	* San Sebastian Cathedral
7 p.m.	* MassKara Queen Talent Pre-Pageant	* Providence Negros (Fireworks)
9 p.m.	* Live Rosary	* DYWB Bombo Radyo
Oct. 2, Saturday
	* 1st Kartzone Autocross Championships (On-going until Oct. 3, 2010)	* Old Airport, Singcang, Bacolod City
7 p.m.	* MassKara Queen Ramp Modeling Night Pre-Pageant	* 888 China Town Square Mall
Oct. 3, Sunday
7 a.m. – 5 p.m.	* Cultural Contest – DepEd	* BAYS Center
10 a.m.	* Volkswagen Club of the Philippines Motorcade	* BAYS Center NGC to SM Mall
4 p.m.	* 'The Interview' Pre-pageant presentation for the Q & A portion of MassKara Queen	* SM Bacolod Events Center
5:25 p.m.	ABS – CBN Live Remote News Cast	* Luzuriaga St.
Oct. 5, Tuesday
4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.	* Elderly Queen '10 – FSCAB	* BAYS Center
Oct. 6, Wed
	* ABS – CBN Live Remote News Cast	* Araneta – Gonzaga Street (Welcome Marker)
Oct. 9, Saturday
5:30 a.m.	* MassKara Fun Run	* East Block, Villamonte
10 a.m.	* 4th Volkswagen Car Exhibit(On-going until Oct 10, 2010)	* SM Northwing
	* Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club Mayor's Cup	* NOGCC Bata, Bacolod City
Oct. 10, Sunday
5:30 a.m.	* Occidental Negros (Host) Lions Club 10.10.10-Run, Walk, BIke Event	* Capitol Lagoon
6 p.m.	* Our Lady of the Holy Rosary of Bacolod Feast day procession(with fireworks)	* San Sebastian Cathedral
7 p.m.	* MassKara Queen Pageant andCoronation Night	*  LaSalle Coliseum
Oct. 14, Thurs
	Volkswagen Club of the Philippines Car Show(On-going until Oct. 16, 2010)	* PAGCOR Hotel Lobby
Oct. 15, Friday
(Whole day)	* Market-Market Pana-ad October Bonanza	* Pana-ad Park
6 p.m.	Lights On: Electric MassKara 2010	* Lacson St., Tourism Strip
7 p.m.	* Electric MassKara (Electric Float Competition)
10 p.m.	* Live Bands 4 concert stages	* Lacson St., Tourism Strip
Oct. 16, Saturday
7 a.m – 6 p.m.	* MassKara 1st Starting Line Sprint Series(On-going until Oct. 19, 2010)	* Old Airport, Singcang
1 p.m. – 8 p.m.	* Bacolod Negros Arnis Federation International	* BAYS Center
4 p.m.	* MassKara Street Dance Competition (School Category)	* Araneta St. to Public Plaza
4 p.m.	* Negros Dragon 2nd MassKara Motorshow	* SM North Terminal
7 p.m.	*Electric MassKara (Electric Float Parade)	* Tourism Strip, Lacson Street
10 p.m.	Live Bands: 4 concert stages	* Tourism Strip
	2nd MassKara Motorshow Open Competition	* SM City North Terminal
Oct. 17, Sunday
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.	* MassKara 1st Starting Line Sprint Series	* Old Airport, Singcang
4 p.m.	* MassKara Street Dance Competition (Barangay Category)	* Araneta St. to Public Plaza
Oct. 18, Monday
	Countdown to the Charter Day Giant Street Party Celebration	* New Government Center
Oct. 19, Tuesday
	72nd Charter Day Anniversary
		* More Activities to be announced
		* Schedules are subject to change without prior notice.

2010 Masskara Festival Officially Starts

The 2010 Masskara Festival officially opened yesterday, October 1, 2010.

Starting October 1, certain streets will be closed during the afternoons up to the evenings in the downtown areas; and this is the day when you start seeing those colorful banderitas hanging over the streets. Officially, the Masskara Festival has begun.

Marking the opening of the Masskara Festival is the pre-pageant Masskara Queen Talent Night held in Providence Negros Subdivision (Brgy Granada).

photo courtesy of http://www.themasskarafestival.com

The 10 finalists for the Masskara Queen Pageant showcased their talents which ranged from unique role playing talents to highly energetic fire dances to captivating gyspy dances, as well as Filipino folk dances.

Before the Masskara Queen Talent Night began, umbrellas started sprouting as rain fell on the open grounds of the venue. But still, awaiting to see the 10 Masskara Queen finalists, nobody thought about leaving. 

The Masskara festivities was in the air as drum beaters greeted the crowd at the entrance.  A number of kiosks were lined at the sides adding to the festive atmosphere. To add to the spirit of the Masskara Festival, prices were given away to 40 lucky winners during the Masskara Queen Talent Night too – prices ranged from umbrellas to t-shirts to cellphones. To top off the excitement, the Masskara Queen Talent Night was graced by the presence of artist Richard Poon as one of the show's guests. 

The Masskara Queen Talent Night, although entertaining, was quite a fast-paced show; which means that the excitement continues on to the Masskara Queen Pageant & Coronation Night on October 10.

Aside from the pageant and crowning of the 2010 Masskara Queen, the winners of the several pre-pageant contests will be announced at the Masskara Queen Pageant and Coronation Night – a ticketed event at the La Salle Coliseum. See you there!

El Tzino Beach House (Cauayan)

Would you like to spend a week here?

That place is El Tzino, and I did spend a week there. And it was a nice getaway!

Relaxing Getaway

Being the beach lover that I have always been, I did enjoy my week at El Tzino. But note that I am not really an avid fan of the deep side of the beach, nor the dark-colored waters. But I love going boating, soaking in the shallow areas, and sitting by the shore listening to the waves.

Affordable Rates

photo courtesy of Facebook/El Tzino

So, just right beside the well-known Punta Bulata resort, El Tzino Beach House shares with it the same water and sand – but not the price.

For only 4,000 pesos (as of summer 2010), you can have an entire beach house of 4 bedrooms, a kitchen, a small living room, a small terrace, and the entire place for yourselves (as is the usual case) --& because El Tzino isn't swarming with people. 
                                          If you are travelling as a couple or a group of 3-4 people, they have special rates for that.  If you wish to pitch tents on the beach, you can rent one for only 250 pesos (size is good for 4-6 people).

El Tzino only has a minimal number of guests at each visit, thus, making your time nicer and more relaxing.

Things to Do

You can enjoy leisure walks along the shores of El Tzino, beach volleyball during the day, swimming (especially during high tide), boating to the nearby Danjugon island (which is a marine sanctuary and even holds marine camps for teens during the summer), or just sit and relax by the beach with your favorite drink.

Pumpboat rentals are available at El Tzino for 1,000 pesos if you'd like to go island hopping.  If you want a have a massage, you have the option of having a local masseuse come over, or you can visit neighboring resort Punta Bulata which has spa facilities and amenities.

Although El Tzino doesn't have wi-fi access, you can bring your laptop with you and still be connected to the world with a plug-in internet kit.

Getting There

Getting to El Tzino is easy. You can take the bus, which usually have hourly trips to towns in the South and get off at Brgy. Elihan once you see the sign indicating that it is the road going in to "Punta Bulata". You can then take the tricycle or any local transport going in. (El Tzino and Punta Bulata has the same road going in and is only separated by a fork on the road).

photo courtesy of Noel S. Marañon

If you have a car, it is much more convenient. Upon seeing the sign "Punta Bulata" along the highway of Barangay Elihan, that is your cue to take a right (if you are from the north) and make your way to El Tzino. There are signs along the way. If you are not sure, you can ask locals where El Tzino is, and they will gladly direct you to it.

El Tzino is a mere 30-minute drive (tops) to the town proper if you need to go and buy some stuff. El Tzino is a great place to de-stress, rejuvenate, and be one with nature. A bonus: the locals in the area of El Tzino are so friendly, you'd feel so welcome right away!  

Contact Details
El Tzino Beach House
Barangay Elihan,
Cauayan, Negros Occidental
Landline: +63-34-7037555
Mobile: +639206305165  +639176342467
Email: el_tzino@yahoo.com

Sugar and Style

Bacolod City is where sugar and style can mix irresistibly.

photo courtesy of Clay Tan

Sugar & Style Fashion Show held in L'Fisher Hotel's new La Proa Ballroom last September 9, 2010 was the great culmination to the two-day Ultimate Wedding and Events Fair Exhibit.

photo courtesy of Gerard Dacles

photo courtesy of Gerard Dacles

Sugar &Style featured Bacolod's own BAM models, as well as DJ Leandro and the Patiqueros and GMT (Gerry Grey). 

Designers featured in Sugar & Style were John-John Ditching 

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

and Kelly Cuachon.

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

 Guest models included 8 of Philippines' top models too, including Bacolod's own Grendel Alvarado (Philippine's Next Top Model Winner) who is now based in Manila.

photo courtesy of S. Keiron Tan

Sugar & Style -- sweet fashion and style altogether.   How was it?  Sweeeet!

Sights and Sounds: Makati City

Known as the "Financial Capital of the Philippines", Makati City houses the tallest buildings in the Philippines, a number of five star hotels, first-class shopping malls, the various embassies, and the Philippine Stock Exchange as well as the Makati Business Club.

It has been dubbed by Yahoo News as one of the top 10 safest places to live in the world. It is also the 16^th largest city in the Philippines, and is said to be the richest city in the country. One may find lots of expats residing and working here too.


There are several stories as to the History of the name.  One story says That it was brought about by language barrier between the discoverer, Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and the natives of the place.

When he asked them what the name of the place was, they misunderstood and started pointing to the ebbing tide of the Pasig River saying "Makati, kumakati na" (meaning "look, the tide, it's already receding").                                                                       
Another said origin of Makati's name came from the Tagalog word "makati" which means "itchy" because the place used to be a swamp with many weeds.  It was, in fact, dismissed as a useless swamp in the past and no one would buy land in this area.





Thus the name "Makati".