Life is (indeed) a beach

Manila, Philippines

Ever been to a good beach? Try Boracay, one of the most famous beaches in the Philippines. Although some would say that the long beach is slowly deteriorating, it’s still a nice, cozy place to go to.

Spending: P23,000 rough total
– P13,000 – Airfare cost during peak season from (and back to) Manila, which is expensive. So, best if you book at least 3 months before your trip.
– P750 – 2.5 nights of parking (if you have a car) in Terminal 3
– P200 – 1-time terminal fee
– P260 – boat ride fee from (and back) to the airport
– P200 – tricycle fee from (and back) to the port
– P5,000 – 2-night stay at Hey Jude Hotel
– P3,000 – food, drinks and a little shopping for 3 days

Eating Favorites:
– Coconut / Buko Shake
– Fresh Sea Food (purchase during dinner time only)
– Jonah’s Army Navy Sandwich
– Hey Jude’s Longganisa Breakfast
– Sun Asian Kitchen’s Laksa

Learnings:
– It is really more fun in the Philippines. Shout out to the locals!
– Juggling work and vacation is workable.
– Travel light if you’re spending just 3 days and 2 nights.
– Live and love life!

All In The Clouds

Manila, Philippines

Have you tried staging a planning session that didn’t entail long drives and would give a breather from the metropolis?

Recently, I went up with the great people from ACASIA to Cloud 9, a cozy hotel at Antipolo Philippines. We went there to brainstorm and consolidate our fantastic ideas for 2014. Once we got there, the 1.5-hour drive from Quezon City was worth it! We weren’t able to use all the facilities but what caught our attention was the picturesque view of Metro Manila, Laguna de Bay, Mountains of Sierra Madre and Rizal Province.

 

Here’s what the hotel had to offer:

• The Ateroid
• The Sky Garden
• The Venus Hall
• The Meteor Garden
• The Galaxy Hall
• The Seventh Heaven
• The Celestial Hall
• The Veranda Garden
• The Kelly Heights Garden
• The Meditation Chapel
• The Nirvana Garden

 

Learnings:

1. Have patience for long drives.
2. Enjoy every minute of planning sessions.

References:

• http://cloud9antipolohotel.com

Photo Credits:

• n/a

Writer Info:

Awe Messages

A Master of Basics, Enthusiast of Simplicity, God’s Servant, Sports Fan, MMA Junkie, Coffee Addict and a Proud Filipino.
He studied in Ateneo De Manila and in the University of Santo Tomas. His marketing career began in 2005 and has worked for international creative/ advertising agencies.
He can be sent a personal message anytime via (@AweMessages) Facebook (Awe Mes), Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Gmail

Tags:

#antipolo #Best #business #cloud9 #great #mountain #nonprofit #philippines #planning #social #view

 

Witnessing Basketball Greatness

Manila, Philippines

 

Have you ever dreamed of being a basketball superstar – firing a shot from long range, doing ankle-breaking cross overs and flying for a Tomahawk jam? If you are like me, then, welcome to the club! However, there are only a handful of superstars who stand above us mere mortals.

 

As a basketball fan, I am always amazed with the skills of young basketball players nowadays particularly the ‘Durantula’, Mr. Kevin Durant. 2014 is a stellar year for the 25-year old phenom (yes, he is only 25 years old! My goodness!). Kevin Durant has not even reached his prime and has astonished millions with his elite playmaking. He was recently awarded with the NBA’s MVP Award and the 2014 NBA Scoring Title. In the regular season, there were only two to choose from – KD and LBJ. However, it was Durant’s impeccable scoring and over-all consistency that rewarded him the trophies. James came in second, while Griffin and Noah were 3rd and 4th, respectively.

 

The Awarding

There are some basketball greats who boast a lot. With KD, what struck me is how simple and sincere he is. And this was validated during his MVP speech:

 

“Everything in my life, I had to take it,” Durant said. “They’re not going to give it to you out of sympathy. I wouldn’t want it any other way. This was another case, if I wanted to win the MVP, I had to go take it. I felt that this was the year I did that.”

KD the MVP:

• Point Per Game (PPG) – 32.0
• Rebounds Per Game (RPG) – 7.4
• Assists Per Game (APG) – 5.5
• Only Player to WIN both MVP and Scoring Titles since Allen Iverson in 2001
• 3rd Player in NBA History to score at least 25 points per game in 41 games

KD the Man:

• Personality – humble and family-oriented, In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Durant claimed that “global marketing and all that stuff” does not interest him.
• Off court – humanitarian, donated $1M to the American Red Cross (victims of Moore tornado)

 

Learnings:

1. Constantly improve your skills. It doesn’t have to be basketball. 🙂
2. Success should not lead to arrogance. Stay humble. 
3. Enjoy watching the NBA especially its great players.

 

References:

• www.nba.com
• www.wikipedia.org
• www.espn.com
• www.yahoo.sports.com

 

Photo Credits:

• www.pages.ph
• www.msn.foxsports.com
• www.upload.wikimedia.org

 

Writer Info:

Awe Messages is a Master of Basics, Enthusiast of Simplicity, God’s Servant, Sports Fan, MMA Junkie, Coffee Addict and a Proud Filipino.

 

He studied in Ateneo De Manila and in the University of Santo Tomas. His marketing career began in 2005 and has worked for international creative/ advertising agencies.

 

He can be sent a personal message anytime via (@AweMessages) Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and Gmail

 

Tags:

#nba #kevin #durant #lebron #james #blake #griffin #joakim #noah #mvp #best #scoring #title #humble

 

Being bitter never tasted this good!

May 2, 2914

MANILA, Philippines – After almost a year, one of the country’s top plays is back, Kapeng Barako Club (KBC): Samahan ng mga Bitter. Staged in cafés, KBC is set to please kape lovers once more this June 2014 in well-known coffee shops in Metro Manila. A Special Encore Presentation will be staged for the Media before the June show (Date: TBD).

This Palanca Award-winning play is written and directed by Juan Ekis, who is previously known for his other Palanca winning play “Twenty Questions” which went viral in the internet. The playwright shares with us that he “…just wanted to stage a play with the title Kapeng Barako Club: Samahan ng mga Bitter. I didn’t know yet what it was going to be about. But I just knew I wanted to write about types of people and the types of coffee they love and how their personalities are reflected in their drinks.”

KBC is the longest-running show presented by Arts and Culture Asia (ACASIA), a non-profit organization aimed at cultivating the crafts of thespians and showcasing their talents across different venues. “ACASIA’s advocacy is to teach artists how to manage their talents wisely and open avenues for them to show it and them being a part of KBC is one of it. Nestled in a natural setting (coffee shops), coffee drinkers get to enjoy a play like this. Think of it as if you’re eavesdropping. It’s actually fun!” says ACASIA’s Managing Director and one of KBC’s lead actors, Ms. Daianne Moreno.

KBC unfolds the story of a group of coffee-loving friends who don’t believe in love but in reality, each one is dying to experience being loved.

Kapeng Barako Club: Samahan ng mga Bitter is presented by CornWorld. Special thanks to Shop Iya Misa, Shell, Style Source Manila and our media partners WhenInManila.com, DZUP 1602 and DZXL 558.

Other details:
• Seating Capacity – 40 LIMITED MEDIA SEATS AVAILABLE! (P500/ticket)
• Reservations – (Email – samahanngmgabitter@gmail.com)
• Online
o Facebook, Youtube and Instagram (/SamahanNgMgaBitter)
o Twitter (@BitterCorp)

#Kapeng Barako Club #Samahan ng mga Bitter #palanca #award #actor #play #coffee #cafe #kbc #acasia #philippines #taste #director #top #best #pinoy

Chef Lau’s Guevarras Restaurant

April 22, 2014

Chef Lau’s Guevarras Restaurant
P. Guevarra Street corner Argonne Steeet,
San Juan City, Philippines

Hats off to the Chef! Great food and a quiet yet spacious location is the perfect combination for a family dinner.

Guevarras is a gem restaurant found in quiet San Juan. Unlike more expensive buffet restaurants in Metro Manila, it gives a plethora of food choices presented sophistically.

AweSome:
Food Recommendation – Angus Beef
Time to eat – Dinner
Company to be with – Family and Friends

Others:
Rating – 9/10
Value-For-Money – 10/10
Rate – P399 (Monday-Friday lunch), P499 (Monday-Friday dinner) and P599 (Friday-Sunday lunch and dinner)
Contact Info – +6327051811 & +639173112222