Get High in Makiling Highlands Resort!

My friend and I wanted to have a short break from work this summer, I mean who doesn't want to have a vacation getaway in this hot season right? After a series of planning and searching for a good place to go to we ended up choosing Makiling Highlands Resorts. Makiling Highlands Resort is located in Captain Mamon Road, Pansol, Calamba, Laguna. (You can check their website for the map: http://www.montevista.com.ph/highlands_index.html) 

I purchased a ticket in agoda.com, we booked an overnight stay for 2 with complimentary breakfast for a total of P1,995.00. It says in agoda.com that the rate I purchased was a promo stating that the original price of that room was around Php 3,000.00 but apparently when we arrived, what we booked was the actual rate already, anyway, no regrets for that. We went there via my friend's car without knowing how to go there! Thank goodness for the car's gps, after many twists and turns, we finally found our destination. 

Check in starts at 2:00 pm, we arrived at around 3:30 pm. Honestly, we weren't expecting much but when we arrived, the service and place was way better than we expected. The reception is already at the entrance gate of the resort. Upon showing our voucher, they immediately handed me the forms for my signature, gave our voucher for the food and let us in. 

The place was bigger than what we have in mind since it is located at the foot of Mt. Makiling and the resort itself is several miles away from the main entrance. We were welcomed by their staff who immidiately guided us to the parking lot, helped us with ur stuff and led us to our room. From that point only, I knew we were up for a nice and relaxing overnight stay. They really have good and fast service considering the size and distance of one place to another. 

The ambience of the resort was very peaceful. Even though there's a karaoke playing simultaneously, it doesn't have that "place filled with noisy people" feel. I don't know why, but you can really feel like you're already separated from the outside world. They have 3 separated swimming pools and slides. Unfortunately, the slides were closed during that time. The pool for adult is not too deep, so it's not advisable for diving. They have lots of tables and cottages for rent if you won't avail a room and many grilling areas are scattered all over the place, some tables have their own faucet and sink. In terms of convenience in utilities, this place is passed the test.

Their rooms was placed nicely in an elevated area that makes it look very unique and nice. Our room was small, its like a box, but clean and very comfortable. It just lack a little closet or storage for stuff. The rest room also was clean,only thing, there was no hot option in the shower.  All in all we like it. We also have a great view in the window oveer looking the resort. 

 

We totally messed up the clean room. Haha!

We didn't had dinner because we brought so many snacks which is better because they don't have a cafeteria or place where you can eat dinner, only a small store that offers chips, souvenir items and toiletries.  But they do have food delivery from Max's Monte Vista.  They have billiards that you can rent for Php 100 an hour and table tennis. We played then went swimming for a short time,too bad that the other pool was closed for cleaning so we were only able to swim in the adult pool (that is not deep at all).

The following day,our free breakfast was delivered to our room. It came from Max's Monte Vista. They have few breakfast to choose from but it was good to begin your day with. I chose tocilog and my friend had bangsilog. The inclusive drink was tetrapack juice, that's the downfall. haha

Ah! That awesome feeling to have breakfast in bed! :)

 We didn't do much the following day because our check out time was at noon. So we just walked around the place and saw how big it was. They offer several services, such as educational tour, seminar, events, parties, they also have lots of private pools with rooms that is perfect for big groups and can be rented in an affordable rate, around P5,000-P6,000. The resort is also perfect for team buildings because they have a very nice team bulding facility and facilitator, they can customize the package depending on your group size and needs. It is also nice forphotoshoots, they have a nice mini hanging bridge, a tree house and lots of green areas.

Team building facility

Upon check out, we didn't noticed that we extended an hour from our 11 pm check out time written on the deposit slip. But it was really an accident because the check out time written on our voucher was 12 pm, considering this, the receptionist was kind enough to wave the P500.00 that we were supposed to pay as extension fee, that made us a happy customer. 

All in all , we had a great time. So glad that we chose this place. In the future, I would love to bring my family there and suggest the venue for team buidling activities. Sometimes, Makiling Highlands Resorts have promos in group buying sites such as Metrodeal.

This place is of good value for what it's worth, the entrance fee to the pool alone isalso very cheap. Just check out their website and facebook account for more details. 

Makiling Highlands Resort Facebook Page

I Believe I Can Fly!

This post is about my first ever parasailing experience in Boracay last April 2013. The first time I was in Boracay, 2 years ago, we did Island Hopping, Banana Boat riding and Helmet Diving. Back then when I saw people flying up in the sky, it never crossed my mind to try it because I though it will be too expensive but when I returned to Boracay this year, parasailing is the only activity on my list that I wanted to try! And I'm so glad I tried it because it was one of the best activity I ever had in my life! :)

It was a good thing my best friend was up for it too, so early in the morning during our second day in Boracay we immediately walked from our hotel, Orinda Beach resort in Diniwid Beach ahead of station 1 and looked for tour guides who offer various activities. Upon walking we saw a kuya who offered us parasailing activity for 800 pesos only! So we immediately grabbed it and the next thing we knew we were flying up in the sky overlooking the beautiful Boracay beach and it was just truly awesome!

Here are some pictures we had during our sky adventure! :)))

This is where we availed our parasailing activity. Diamond Water Edge Resort. They also offer other activities at lower prices, you just really have to know how to negotiate and look for tourist guides who do not over price the activities.

Our first boat ride going to their floating station where the jet skis are located. 

This is the waiting station, we thought we're going to go parasailing from here but the kuya told us that we're just waiting for another boat to bring us to our final destination. 

 Nevertheless, we took photos of the jet skis! haha next time I will ride a jet ski!

Our second speed boat, it was really fast and kind of jumping on the water! This speed boat brought us to

 other big boat where our parasailing activity is waiting.

We never thought that our final boat will look this big and comfy! It was really worth it because since we were so early, I guess we're their first customer that day, we  kind of owned the big boat because there were no other guests waiting that time. 

After fastening us to our life vests and locking us to the equipment, we sat at the edge of the boat, the boat roared to life and behold, we were being lifted from our sits, slowly at first then higher, higher, higher!!!

So Happy! We were 300 feet above water... too bad I do not have a handy cam with me, the view up there is truly wonderful, it was very serene & peaceful. We could sleep up there! So that's what its like to be a bird. :)

After 15 minutes, our flight has ended... See the big smiles we have on our faces? :)

And that was the end of our parasailing experience. On our way back to the beach, we just rode 1 speed boat and my best friend was able to drive it! It was really worth it, we got more than what we paid for. If you haven't done this before, I really recommend this activity. Great value! 

Goodbye College! (Late Post)

Four years ago I was a little teenager excited to leave high-school and enter the world of college. Clueless of what is ahead of me so many questions in mind like who will I be? What things will I learn? Will I meet good people? Will I suffer or succeed? Be good enough to leave a mark in this new world? So eager to learn and grow. Then 4 years passed by and those questions were answered, turning me into someone beyond her expectations...

April 18, 2013, the day I was called up the stage to finally get my diploma that symbolizes the end of my college life. Who would have thought that being called in front by our Dean as Graduate of Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts could bring such thrill even if we only had 5 seconds of exposure on stage. I thank God for a blessed four years of college and for bringing me to DLSU-D. It was a good thing that I chose this university among others because it has given me so many wonderful opportunities that I don't think will happen to me if I was in a different university far from Dasmariñas. DLSU-D was the right place for me. I truly enjoyed being a Lasallian and will always be a Lasallian. 

And so with that, I want to share with you my other official graduation pictures.

My corporate, casual and Filipiniana attire. I really love the corporate af Filipiniana  shots. :)

BTW, I have so many pending blog posts! I'm planning to do a separate blog post about  my top 10 best college experience, if I find time to do it. Then about my Boracay summer getaway last April 24-26, 2013 by which I was hired in the morning before my flight to Bora in the evening! Cool right?

Well, It has only been 2 weeks after I graduated from college and yet I feel like so many things and changes happened already. I hope I could keep my blog updated. :) 

More graduation pictures in my Facebook account: Graduation Pictures 2013