When I heard about Tibiao Fish Spa, I wondered how different it would be from other Spa’s. Then I actually had one and had an answered question.

The very first experience I had with it, I couldn’t stop laughing. It is very ticklish. My friend even says, it is a therapy, “a laugh therapy” which could cure a lot of illness.

As I got use to the ticklish feeling, I felt very relax and had fallen asleep while the fishes does their magic on my feet.

This is a part of Katahum Tours. A-MUST-HAVE experience if ever you go to Antique.

For more information visit the Tibiao Fish Spa website or contact Flord Nicson Calawag thru mobile +639198139893 or +639264151424 via email: flord@tibiaofishspa.com.

Last January, media were invited for the launching of Katahum Tours. As a blogger and being “it” considered as the “new media,” I was one of the lucky ones who got invited. It was a tour that opened the eyes of many media men to the beauty of Antique, specifically Tibiao.

Katahum is a dialect which means beauty, and with this I think it is best to show you Katahum Tours in action through the pictures during our stay in the beautiful Antique.

I never knew that food as simple a scrambled eggs could be so delicious.

Need I say more?

Day 1 was our trip from Iloilo to Antique and it took about 4 hours. So activities starts on Day 2 and this was “it”, our breakfast to be precise.

After a satisfying breakfast, we went to ITT’S MODA or Drivers Association for Motorcycle and with the help of SEAOIL, we had given them a simple gift.

Plan was to have a “Habal-Habal” ride (a ride via motorcycle) going to Kayak-inn, but since it the road is wet, it would be dangerous to do so. Sadly, we skipped that and proceeded to Kayak-inn via Van.

I enjoyed the view along the way. Nothing is more relaxing than seeing the beauty of nature.

Finally, we arrived in the Kayak area.

This is me with the locals.

Me with a newly found friend within the media group. These are Kapuso (GMA) representatives.

Flord Nicson Calawag, person in charge and the one who invited us on this adventure is teaching the proper way of paddling on kayak.

Watch me enjoy kayaking.

After the kayak, we went for a relaxing hot bath in a “kawa” (large pan).

Thanks to Junn Mendoza for taking my pictures.

Off to Malakagat Hanging Bridge.

Along the way, I found this unusual cute pig. It’s like a dalmatian pig.

Then to Butong River.

Then a relaxing Tibiao fish spa experience.

Day 3, Lambaklad Fishing.


I am scared of riding the balsa.

Here we are with the fisher-folks and the fishes we caught.

Sea boating at Malabor coast.

Message from the local fishermen: No to purse seiners.

Kamamba pottery and brick making.

See me making a brick.

Lunch at Niel’s Resort and Resto Grill.

Muscovado experience.

Thanks to Flord Nicson Calawag for this unforgettable experience.

If you want to experience the power and beauty of nature, check Katahum website for more info or contact:
info@katahum.com
+639264151424
+639198139893

Photo by Mary Jane Cabrera

I together with an Iloilo Blogger, Mary Jane Cabrera stayed in a Deluxe Suite and so does the Cebu Bloggers Clarence and Jorich. The room is designed for two people but the two beds are huge enough to fit 4 people. There’s a huge closet available to put clothes in, but since we are only staying overnight, I didn’t bother to hang my clothes there. I am thankful that we are in a Makati hotel with free internet because as a blogger, we do need it. After a days activity my friend Jane still worked while I had a relaxing warm shower then watched TV and eventually slept in my comfy bed. Insomnia didn’t bother me that night.

I surely enjoyed my stay at the Jupiter Suites, and I bet so does the bloggers who stayed on different rooms:

• Mommy Bloggers had the Family Suite

Photo by Darling Aguilar

• Davao Bloggers had the Standard Suite

Photo by ARAphoennix

Room Rates:

• Standard Suite = Php 2,980 / night
• Deluxe Suite = Php 3,580 / night
• Family Suite = Php 4,580 / night

Photo by Darling Aguilar

Enjoy free breakfast.

Here’s a video by JayL Aquino for “I Love Makati” featuring Jupiter Suites

In Jupiter Suites, you will surely enjoy a budget travel in Makati City.

Jupiter Suites Contact:

Email = frontdesk@jupitersuites.com.ph

Website = http://www.jupitersuites.com.ph

Phone = (632) 8905044 to 50

Fax = (632) 890-5019

Cellphone = 09178525050

WHERE TO STAY: I remembered that my friend Eric, blogged about a cheap accommodation in Cebu so I made my reservations there, online. I was not able to pay the reservation fee, but still they honored my reservation. I got a First Class accommodation which cost me Php 350 / night, this includes linens. However, if you want the Business Class for Php 250 / night you need to have a towel ready.

HOW TO GET THERE: It was 2 days before the event and still I don’t have plane tickets. Good thing my cousin owned a ticketing outlet, and so I got a ticket from them. Haven’t paid them yet, but will do soon. I got a Cebu Pacific ticket which is usually cheaper than Philippine Airlines, but it cost me more than Php 7,000 for a round-trip ticket Iloilo-Cebu. My fault for not buying it earlier. Anyway, I noticed that the plane used is smaller than the plane being used in Iloilo-Manila flight.

Cebu Pacific vs Philippine Airlines:

• Only baggage are being weighed on Philippine Airlines, while in Cebu Pacific you will be weighed. I  was really conscious on how I gained weight, so I really noticed this procedure.
• In Philippine Airlines, upon exiting the airport, if you had baggage a security will check the baggage tag and your ticket if it will match or if you have picked your own baggage, while in Cebu Pacific, there’s no checking (could be a reason why there are many instances or reports of lost baggage, since anyone could just pick a baggage and pray they wont get caught by the owner).

Airport Procedures:

Iloilo to Cebu

• Upon arriving at the airport, proceed to security and present your printed ticket with a valid ID.
• Put all your bags in a machine to be checked and surrender yourself for a body check.
• Proceed on getting your boarding pass on the area labeled with your flight “example: Cebu Pacific PR145 Iloilo to Cebu”
  • If you decided to have your baggage deposit, note that the limit for Iloilo to Cebu flight is just 15kg. If you exceed, you have to pay an excess fee which is Php 100 per kilo excess.
  • If you decided to have all your bags hand-carry, be sure that you could carry all those bags.
  • Cebu Pacific: You will be weighed.
• Go and pay a terminal fee of Php 200.
  • At this point, you could keep your ticket and ID for you will only be needing the boarding pass.
  • Present boarding pass.
• Again your bags will be checked (those you have decided to hand-carry) including your shoes/slippers and surrender yourself for yet again, body check.
• Go to a gate where you will depart.
  • Check your boarding pass for that info.
  • Observe because sometimes gate listed on boarding pass is changed and it is hard to understand the call because usually it sounds more like murmur than actual words.
• If your flight is boarding, know where you will be seated. This is listed on your boarding pass.
  • Since the plane is smaller than the usual, you have to climb stairs to go to the plane, this could get you a photo op, but the ramp is much convenient for me.
• On flight it is advice you switch off your mobile phones and listen to stewards for guides.
• On Cebu, from deplaning a bus will fetch you to go to arrival area of Cebu Airport.
• Now you are in Cebu Enjoy Your Stay.

Check the post I have on my other blog which discusses steps to take in Iloilo to Manila flight.

Cebu to Iloilo – (similar procedures)

• Upon arriving at the airport, proceed to security and present your printed ticket with a valid ID.
• Put all your bags in a machine to be checked and surrender yourself for a body check.
• Proceed on getting your boarding pass on the area labeled with your flight “example: Cebu Pacific PR145 Iloilo to Cebu”
  • If you decided to have your baggage deposit, note that the limit for Iloilo to Cebu flight is just 15kg. If you exceed, you have to pay an excess fee which is Php 100 per kilo excess.
  • If you decided to have all your bags hand-carry, be sure that you could carry all those bags.
  • Cebu Pacific: You will be weighed.
• Go and pay a terminal fee of Php 200.
  • At this point, you could keep your ticket and ID for you will only be needing the boarding pass.
  • Present boarding pass.
• Again your bags will be checked (those you have decided to hand-carry) including your shoes/slippers and surrender yourself for yet again, body check.
• Go to a gate where you will depart.
  • Check your boarding pass for that info.
  • Observe because sometimes gate listed on boarding pass is changed and it is hard to understand the call because usually it sounds more like murmur than actual words.
  • In Cebu my gate was 7 and there is an area with Label Gate 7 & 8, I didn’t know at first that you have to enter that area and go downstairs to see the actual gate 7 and 8. So, be mindful of everything that goes around you.
• If your flight is boarding, know where you will be seated. This is listed on your boarding pass.
  • A bus will fetch you from the airport to the plane.
  • Since the plane is smaller than the usual, you have to climb stairs to go to the plane, this could get you a photo op, but the ramp is much convenient for me.
• On flight it is advice you switch off your mobile phones and listen to stewards for guides.
• On Iloilo, from deplaning marshals will guide you to where you should exit.
• Now you are in Iloilo Enjoy Your Stay.

FROM AIRPORT TO HOTEL: Since I don’t know the place I went for a metered Taxi, and unfortunately I took the airport Taxi (yellow colored) which has a start meter of Php 70 in where the usual Taxi (white colored) would just have Php 30. I mentioned my hotel and Taxi driver was kind enough to give me some TIPS: Lock the taxi doors for you don’t know there are bad people out there and Be careful of your belongings.

ACTIVITIES:

So, I attended the Cebu Blog Camp, but the day after that was the day I begun my Cebu adventure – SOLO FLIGHT.

Anyway, after the Cebu Blog Camp, I went to SM City Cebu and remembered that my friend is working in PAGCOR. I texted him and he gave me instructions on how to get there. He mentioned that Taxi drivers in Cebu are good people. I think he is right because I arrived safely. I just noticed that when on the stop-light or traffic, the Taxi engine tends to turn off and this happened to 4 of the Taxi’s I hired.

I played on slot machine and beginners luck won me about Php 2,100.

My friend invited me to have breakfast with him in which I agreed because I don’t know where to have breakfast in Cebu. So he took me into this 24 hour tapsilogan and ordered “bangsilog” which is bangus and itlog. It satisfied me.

Now, on my solo adventures.

Magellan’s Cross – paid Php 100 to a dancing praying lady who also took the picture.

Sky Experience and Adventure starting with the Edge Coaster at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers

Extreme Skywalk at Crown Regency Hotel and Towers

Went to Ayala to buy Break Talk Floss for pasalubong and had lunch at Moon Cafe. I tried their Moon steak and had a Thirsty buko shake.

That was my last stop.  I then went to the Airport and off I go back to my Iloilo.

My friend promised me a trip to Bohol – all expenses paid by him Looking forward to that, for now back to busy life in Iloilo.

I am proud to present to you the pictures my friend Ann took.

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

As usual, our day starts with a breakfast. We know that we will be having a long day of traveling, so we decided to have Kansi at Pat-Pat’s Kansi.

The cholesterol we ate was all gone after we climb to see the Ford’s Point. At first we thought it is a big monument like the one in Brazil because it looks like that on the pic, but the scenery was fulfilling, so the climb was worth it. Anyway, as Hannah Montana would say, “it’s the climb.”

Also featured in Trip na Trip is the sun drying area.

The last stop is buying pasalubong. So it is between Tracy’s which was featured on Trip na Trip, and Panulce.
I bought one cake on each
My fave sans rival at Tracy’s.

And mango buttercream at Panulce.

On the road back to Iloilo. Still there’s a day trip to explore a few things on Iloilo.

On our second day, we have a whole day full of trippings. Enrico Dee of Byahilo planned the itinerary for the day with a guide he had from Trip na Trip Capiz episode. Marcos Caratao of Explore Iloilo, Junn Mendoza of Gigs Ilonggo and I have some catalogs we took from the exhibit at the Capiz Gym during Day 1. Addition to our group is a fellow blogger who is a resident of Capiz, Sheilla May Baes of Pweng Bee.

First our hungry stomachs demanded for a heavy breakfast, so we went to Dante’s.

I ordered my ever favorite breakfast, TAPSILOG.

A few of my friends were intrigued of their corned “beff” so they ordered that only to find out it is a regular corned beef. LOL

After our breakfast, we went to Panublion Museum.

Then ask some tips from City Hall to have some guidance on where to go.

We were told to go to Balay Kapisnon for more info about Capiz Tourism.

There, we went to Culajao Mangrove Eco Park which was also featured in Trip na Trip.

The exploration of the eco park made us hungry, so next stop is Nesta’s where we are going to have our lunch. Just across the street is Panulce which is popular for those who have sweet tongue.

Afternoon came and we went to Pan-ay church, also featured on Trip na Trip.

After being holy and climbing the scary stairs to see the historical bell, we went to the port supposed to go to Olotayan Island. Like Trip na Trip, we weren’t allowed to go there, but we promise next time we would be ready and would really have a solid plan to go there.

We just went to people’s park to relax after being frustrated not being able to go to Olotayan Island. Darkness caught us there.

We went to a Baybay restaurant to eat delicious seafood for a very affordable price.

Satisfying Day 2 at Roxas.

The stadium is filled with exhibits of different kinds.

First are the native houses.

This is my favorite house.

Ifugao House – It is a small enclose structure, a one-room affair that serves as living and sleeping room, kitchen and dining room. It is elevated above the ground by four posts made of a sturdy tree-trunks with roots intact. It has solid panels for walls and tightly thatched roofing.

Here are the rest of the native house.

Subanen House

Bagobo House

Kankana Ey House

Palawani and Molbog House

Jama Mapun House

Pala’Wan House

Agta / Ita House

Mangyan House

Lineyte / Samarnon House

Panay Bukidnon House

Maayon

Products of different provinces outside the Capiz Gymnasium.

Aklan

Guimaras

Capiz

Negros Occidental

Antique

Iloilo

Paraw-Regatta (Iloilo) Photo Exhibit

Inside the Gym are replica of the beautiful places in each province.

Afternoon came, and the parade started at the center of Roxas City, in front of Immaculate Concepcion Church.

Leading the Parade.

The most amazing thing on this festival is being able to experience different festivals.

Festivals of Negros Occidental:

Pintaflores Festival of San Carlos City (Every November 3-5)

Sigabong Sang Kanyon Festival of Bago City (November 5)

Pasalamat Festival of La Carlotta City (May 3)

MassKara Festival of Bacolod City (October 1-19)

Festivals from Iloilo:

Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City (4th Sunday of January)

Paraw Regatta of Iloilo City (February)

Festivals of Aklan:

Ati-Atihan Festival of Kalibo (3rd Sunday of January)

Ati-Ati Festival of Ibajay (4th Sunday of January)

Festival of Antique:

Binirayan Festival of San Jose de Buenavista (3rd weekend of April)

Festival of Guimaras:

Manggahan Festival (May 22)

Festival of Capiz:

Halaran Festival of Roxas City (1st weekend of December)

Enjoy more of my Pictures:

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

I am not as good as my friends, so you better check out their sites and photos as well.

Enrico Dee of Byahilo

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Marcos Caratao of Explore Iloilo

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.

Junn Mendoza of Gigs Ilonggo

See us getting featured on Capiz Blog

We got use to calling Him Sto. Niño de Palaboy-laboy and every year we celebrate his birthday on the day my Mom had bought Him. He turned 19 years old, 2 days ago and I bought Him a “Superman” cake from Tinapayan to thank Him for all the blessings He had given us.

My family had experienced a lot of miracles done by our Sto. Niño de Palaboy-laboy. WE witnessed it and we believe. I know our Palaboy-laboy is always watching over us.

In English, “Sto. Niño de Palaboy” means “The Wandering Saint” and is said to visit the fishermen and peasants and bring them fortune and happiness. That simply IS what HE has done to US.

He is my inspiration into having this blog. As the word “Palaboy” in dialect means “wandering.” This would be a travel blog or simply me wandering around the world.