Virgin Beach Resort, Laiya, San Juan, Batangas

Got invited to a birthday beach party at Virgin Beach Resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.   Entered the resort via day tour under the Picnicker's package which costs around Php 300 per person + Dining Parasol (accommodates 12 to 15 persons) w/c  costs Php 1350/day.  They also have other packages w/c include food, you can check them out from their website at http://www.virginbeachresort.com/.  Staying at Virgin Beach Resort, really gives meaning to the term Sun, Sand and Sea, as there is not much to do at the resort itself as it is particularly designed for enjoying the beach and other outdoor activities.  Beach front in this part of Batangas is very nice as most of the beaches in the vicinity.  However, the water level in this part of Laiya tends to up very high and is not quite suitable for small children.  Never-the-less,  a good quality floater and quality time accompanied by parents makes a difference.  The place is really clean and the staff are always roaming the premises, checking the garbage bins and replacing them every so often.

Mesa @ Greenbelt 5

After finishing my Son's moving-up day, My family decided to go to Mesa, which is located @ Greenbelt 5 to celebrate his achievements.  Good thing, We arrived there a quarter before 12.  We were immediately seated and our orders were taken by their very polite and attentive staff.  If We arrived a little bit later or at 12, We would have waited for a vacant table as the place gets packed at lunch time and would have ended up going somewhere else for lunch.  My wife frequently takes here office mates and guests to Mesa for lunch or dinner whenever they visit the country and vouches for their food, good service, and affordable price.

Kabayan Beach Resort, San Juan Batangas

Summer has officially started and the heat has been unbearable these past few days, so My Family decided to beat the heat and hit the beach.  Along with a few friends and their kids, We decided to go to Kabayan Beach Resort in Brgy. Laiya Aplaya, San Juan, Batangas which is only about a 2 to 3 hr drive from where We live.  We’ve been to this part of Batangas before and have found that the sand is white, the sea shore is relatively clean, and the water is not too salty w/c is perfect for kids as it doesn’t hurt the eyes or irritate the skin. The water level in this part of San Juan Batangas is not too high which is just perfect for kids to swim around and play.  We went to Kabayan Beach Resort for a day trip which costs Php 100 per adult and Php 80 per kids.  We decided to just rent a Nipa hut for Php 1000 which is supposed to be good for 15 persons, w/c is fine as you would just need a place to leave your stuff and eat your food.  Security seems okay as there are a lot of roving security personnel's who patrol the premises.

Holy Carabao Holistic Farm Balik Bukid 2012

My wife and kids have visited Holy Carabao before with their classmates, as part of their school activity. Heard a lot of good things about Holy Carabao from my wife and kids. How they had fun interacting with the animals, using their facilities or just taking a break and having a picnic.  Wish I was there with them to share their experiences, unfortunately commitments at work got in the way.  Good thing they held a Balik Bukid (Country Fair) last Nov. 17 from, 8 am-6  pm.  A pleasant relief, as I understand you had to make appointments first before you could visit the farm.  Easiest way to visit Holy Carabao is to Exit Cabuyao from SLEX (when your exiting going south, make a right turn after the Exit and if your exiting going north, you need to make a left turn after the exit.  Enter the Sta. Elena Village Gate, you can either follow the sign's going to the farm or you could ask the Security personnel's and staff whom are more than happy to help you.  Since We were morning persons, We decided to come early to avoid the rush and heat of the sun.

Museo Pambata

For years I've passed-by Museo Pambata but haven't really gotten a chance to take  a look inside.  Museo Pambata is right along Roxas Blvd. near The US Embassy.  For just Php 100 a person, you can get to visit the museum, see their exhibits and learn while having fun.  For an establishment that been here for a couple of years now, it's nice to see that the displays and exhibits have been relatively well maintained considering the physical abuse the displays get from curious kids and naugthy visitors.  The air con inside the museum was surprisingly cold , a welcomed relief from the hot weather outside. Museo Pambata schedules presentations and events that help teach your kids about the Filipino Culture and children's advocacy's.  They also have a Library where your kids can listen to Story Telling Sessions, read books or watch educational tapes to stimulate your child's imagination and curiosity through reading books.