TOPAZ HORIZON

Our Baguio adventure continues today at Burnham Park! Yesterday, you got a glimpse of our fun day at the popular tourist destination. Today, I'll share a few more photos of our activity-packed morning there.


It's a huge park at almost 33 hectares so we decided to just do three things: bike, run around the gardens, and go on the boat. But there are many other things to see and do at Burnham. There's a skating rink, lots of little stalls to shop at, parks and gardens of roses and orchids, large areas for picnics and for playing sports, and the Children's Playground. This last we found just as we were about to have lunch so even though the kids wanted to play, we didn't let them. We knew better that they're already hungry and will get super cranky and weak if we let them play. But it was such a fun playground! Next time, next time!

Again, I'll just share photos today! Here's what we did at Burnham Park:

We went biking! This was Vito's first time on a bike. He loved it!

Well, okay, that's a trike haha but little steps, little steps.

Vince and I rode pedicabs with the littlest boys as our passengers. I had Piero, Vince had Iñigo. And because we're out in a park so rarely, Vince and I allowed ourselves to let the boys have cotton candy and balloons.


All that sugar fuelled their urge to run run run! Sugar's great for little boys because they're sooo malikot! They can burn through it in seconds!

So let's supplement with dirty ice cream heehee

So madungis! My kids are always sticky, sweaty and sweet.

Off to the man-made lake! It's brown. Has it always been brown? And no life vests??? But did we still ride those rickety, leaky boats anyway???

Yes. Yes, we did. The boys were so unhappy hahaha But at the end of our 30-minute ride, they were enjoying it. That was basically our Baguio trip—the kids suspiciously eyed every activity we offered them, but they ended up enjoying themselves anyway!

Parenting is so weird. But it's also the most fun I've ever had! More of our Baguio adventures tomorrow!

After almost two decades, Vince and I went back to where our love story started—in Baguio City! We met at the UP National Writers Workshop. He and I were fellows for short fiction. By the end of the two-week workshop, we were in love. Eight years later, we got married. Eighteen years later, we have three beautiful boys and, yes, we're still writing. We have the most beautiful life!

I thank God every day for this life because I honestly didn't think I'd ever love marriage and motherhood and I never believed I could make a living out of writing. But I did it all anyway! I treasure my blessings. We may not be swimming in money (one day, one day!) and we could use someone to help us with the chores so we won't be so exhausted all the time, but what's that compared to enjoying my family and my work every day? Okay, maybe it's not so amazing every day haha, but at the end of the day, I still know that life is glorious and I shouldn't take it for granted.

Thank you, dearest Lord. I am so grateful! You are good always.

One of the best things that happened lately is our family vacation in Baguio. We decided to go celebrate it there, this time with the boys. We honestly didn't think it was a good idea because our sons are super magulo in the car but we had such a great time! I'll just do a photo essay today and add more stories through the week.

We stayed at Le Monet Hotel. It was okay. Nothing to write home about. But we got a really good deal, and it was in Camp John Hay, and the staff was so polite and nice, and we did enjoy the view!

Lots of birds always outside our window. Vince took lotsa photos of the birds. He always does that when we're on vacation.

Also outside our balcony were horses. Which meant the cool mountain air was redolent of horse poop aroma! My kids thought it was horrible but Vince and I didn't mind. It added an element of freshness to the atmosphere haha

Kids posing for Mama's Instagram...

... and for Papa's real camera.

Foggy Baguio mornings. Takes me back to those magical weeks when Vince and I fell in love!

And look at this adorableness that our love produced!

The kids at the hotel breakfast buffet. We went there just after Easter hence that golden egg on our table.

Happy baby Piero!

After breakfast, we went to Burnham Park to go biking. I've always wanted to do this when I was a kid. So happy I was able to do this with my own family. We had such a great time!

Fun balloons for just P50! The boys loved their balloons!

Even though Baguio is a cool place, all our biking, walking and running made us hot. It's a good thing ice cream was available everywhere.

As a kid, I've also always wanted to go boating in Burnham Park! But we never did huhu so I was so thrilled that Vince and I were able to take our kids on the lake. Vince actually didn't want to because it was the touristy thing to do but I don't care! It's on my Baguio bucket list. Check! And—despite the boys' faces haha—we had fun!

I'll post more photos this week of our touristy Burnham Park day!

After lunch and a rest, we went hiking on the Eco Trail. That was a looooooong walk. Well, actually, it's just 2 kilometers but because there were lots of climbing and clambering, it felt longer. This was such an adventure. We loved it!

I'll post more photos and a review of the Eco Trail this week. Have lots of advice for families bringing small kids.

For dinner, we went to the critically acclaimed Amare la Cucina. Here's Iñigo watching our pizza being baked in the brick oven. Everyone said Amare served the best pizza in Baguio. As we are a family of pizza lovers, we highly doubted this, especially when we saw the dark and unappealing decor of the restaurant. But, guys. They really truly do serve the BEST PIZZA. Like, kailangan niyo siyang puntahan. Like, I wish they'd open a branch in Manila, specifically right outside my door. Their pizza and their other food like the baked ribs was AMAZING.

Before we went back to our hotel, we stopped by Choco-Late de Batirol for some hot cocoa. They served really good and thick cocoa. My kids—used to Swiss Miss and Milo—were surprised. They didn't like it, which made me sad. Must serve them real hot chocolate drinks from now on!

But that didn't stop Piero from eating the generous topping of marshmallows!

The next day, April 18, was our anniversary! But before we celebrated it with a special luncg, we went to Good Shepherd to buy goodies because Piero loves ube. His pediatrician said he was like an old person haha

For lunch, we went to Vanilla Cupcake Bakery at Kamiseta Hotel. Here we are at the receiving room of Kamiseta Hotel. The hotel was a delight. The food was delicious! And my kids were not up for photos hahahaha

But they were certainly up for cupcakes! Here's Vito and Iñigo waiting for their dessert. I'll blog about our excellent meal this week!


I just really want to share with you this blessing because we honestly didn't think it was going to happen (we had no money haha) but I asked God to make this particular anniversary extra special and within a week of praying that, I found a great deal on Deal Grocer that not only had a hotel in a great location but also allowed for 3 months' instalment! And then when Kamiseta found out we were going to Baguio, they offered us a free meal at their hotel. And then just before our trip, our checks were released and cleared so that we had money for our vacation and for tuition! God is good!

Over at Instagram, there is this thing called IG Stories that I very seldom use. I don't understand the point of taking snaps and videos of one's life and then those will be automatically deleted in 24 hours. Whyyyy???

But while I was chatting with social media star Camille Co for our Calyxta.com shoot, she said that IG Stories are important because you remind people of your presence. Because of Instagram's new algorithm, your posts don't show up on people's feeds anymore. They prioritize business profiles, for example, because those accounts are more likely to pay for ads or to show up more on your feed. But a way to get around that is IG Stories. Every time you do an IG Story, your profile pic shows up on the top of the app. So people see you now!

I see! So I tried it for one day. Here's a day in my life:
At 10am, it was no longer rush hour and I was able to book an Uber. The fare now was no longer insane. And I was able to read my new magazine in the car. Was really inspired by this 44-year-old mommy who took charge of her health!
At home, I had to get the next son ready for school. Good thing I didn't have to worry about lunch because of Harvest Family Comfort Meals. I've been availing of this meal delivery service for over two months now. What a lifesaver for working mamas like me! I'll blog about them next week!

Bringing my Iñigo to school now! Isn't he a cutie? Again, it's Vince who usually brings the kids to school so this was my first time to do this. I was so shocked because he had a tantrum when I dropped him off. He doesn't get upset when Vince drops him off. So even though we got to school early, he was still late because he refused to go inside. Vince and I figured that our little kindergartener got separation anxiety when I took him to school.

Okay, at this point, I just stayed near the boys' school because I was getting Vito in a couple of hours. I also did this last year. I usually spend the time waiting getting my nails done, shopping, or more likely working. I'm always working! I wrote two articles while I waited for Vito to be dismissed.

And here he is! We super love waiting at the gas station near their school. It's nice because it's surrounded by trees and they have really good cheap pizza. Yum! We don't go home yet because we have to wait for Iñigo. We spend this time doing activities. We've done making our own comic strips and listing down our bucket lists and deepest fears. We also do homework. But we mostly chat and I also let him play with the other kids from school.

Iñigo is out and we're off for home!

I just bought my husband his Father's Day gifts. Yes, plural. It's very easy to please Vince since 18 years together taught me what to get him. LEGOs, top quality candy, books, and video games. This year, because he specifically gave me a list, it was even easier to shop! Thanks, babe!

So I'm done with the upcoming event this weekend, but because of my broken toe, I've been surfing the internet more than usual and discovered this lovely shopping site for charming personalized gifts—Gifts Less Ordinary. Here's what I think Vince might like (aside from LEGOs, top quality candy, books, and video games, of course!)

A men's wallet from Maxwell Scott Bags because Vince loves Italian leather. And money hahaha

As long as we're talking about Italian leather, look at this gorgeous leather travel bag also from Maxwell Scott Bags! I know Vince will love this because he's told me many times he wants a leather duffel bag for when we travel.

For his beloved watch which he likes to wind up every day like a Zen habit, how about this watch box from Life of Riley? Understated elegance.

Because my writer husband likes to read novels to feed his massive brain, these silver bookmarks from Highland Angel will forever be treasured. Plus, since Vince gets lost in his fictional worlds, these bookmarks will remind him to come back to us!

Okay, I don't know if he'll like this really but my husband sure loves sweet stuff and it'll be nice when he uses this Best Daddy in the World vintage dessert spoon from La de da! Living when he digs into cake and ice cream!

Now this! This he'll love. Because my hubby likes his beer, a "Cheers to Beers" pint glass from Becky Broome. Woah, a pint! Reminds me of hobbits!

That's just a few of the fun and fabulous personalized finds for my dearest darling Vince, the best papa in all the world, that I found at GiftsLessOrdinary.com! But since I already got him gifts, I'm now browsing the gift selections for ladies and babies!!!

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing daddies everywhere!

*photos grabbed from GiftsLessOrdinary.com