Trip to Bangkok or iPad?

As early as December last year, I have already booked our flight to Bangkok. We're supposed to stay there from June 18-22 and celebrate Father's Day there like last year in Hong Kong. But that may no longer happen due to current political turmoil in Bangkok.

If our planned trip to Bangkok will not push through, I might just use the extra budget to buy an iPad.



iPad 16GB (wifi) cost only US$ 499 from Apple Store (US) but it is being sold locally for P33,000.

I really want this gadget. It's perfect for my job, especially during my one-on-one presentation with clients. My ASUS K42F notebook is too heavy to always carry around and my ASUS EEE PC is too small for presentations.

Yes, I want this gadget. But I'm not sure if I'm prepared to pay P33,000 for it. Got to find a way to get it for US$499 only. :-)

Whether it's trip to Bangkok or an iPad, this will be both great Father's Day gift from me to myself. :-)

Coron Palawan Getaway

Have you been to Coron, Palawan? If not, I highly recommend that you visit Coron for your next summer getaway.


I went there last month together with 3 friends from ASMSI. The place is really great I call it paradise. :-)



It's our first visit to Coron so we decided to get a package tour which cost us P9,500 each. It includes land transfer, boats, island tour, accommodation and food (buffet). I'm not sure if it's the standard rate but one thing I can say is it's worth it. We can't complain with the food they served for us.



Our island tour includes going to Siete Picados, Banol Beach, Calumboyan Isaland, Kayangan Lake and CYC Beach. We also visited ship wreck sites and coral gardens as well as Maquinit Hot Spring and Mt. Tapyas.



We stayed at Ralph's Pension House. When our agent told us of this place, we searched for feedback about it and found negative comments. We initially asked for another option but we were assured that those comments were not true, we decided to get it just the same. We're glad we did. I'll write about Ralph's Pension House separately. The owner and the staff were all friendly and we enjoyed our stay very much!

More Coron Palawan Getaway pictures here.

My Philippines 2010 Election Experience

I went home to Cuenca Batangas yesterday for two reasons. First, I treated my mom to dinner and bought her new phone. My Mother's Day Gift to her.

Second, I'm a registered voter there and today is the election day. After three and a half hours waiting, I was able to successfully cast my vote. Philippines 2010 Election is historic because it's the first time that an Automated Election System is used. I just hope that my vote will be counted properly. :-)


My precinct is located at Cuenca Central School where I finished elementary school.



I arrived in the school around 7.30am and I already saw a long line of voters waiting for their turn to cast their votes. A PCOS machines was reported to have malfunctioned but was fixed right away.



It took me about three and a half hours before I finally got hold of my ballot and voted for the following:

Manny Villar for President
Jejomar Binay for Vice President

For Senators, I voted only 4. My theory is that if I want these people win, I shouldn't add votes to other candidates by completing the 12 slots. I told my mom and Sister to the same. They are:

Satur Ocampo
Liza Maza
Adel Tamano
Pia Cayetano

For Partylist, my vote went to Kabataan. My sister voted for Gabriela while my mom voted for Bayan Muna. We are Natdems like that. :-)

With an Automated Election System, Philippines 2010 Election Results should be finalized within 48 hours.

Leaving Mad House

In a month or two, we'll be moving out of our rented apartment. The one I'm sharing with fellow graduates from The Sisters of Mary School and the one we've grown accustomed to calling Mad House and lovingly stayed in for over three years.

The owner initially promised that our unit will be renovated and we were to be transferred temporarily on the adjacent unit. However, he had a changed of heart. With the contract not renewed this year, we have no choice but look for a new place.

Aside from looking for our next home, we are also in need of movers for our things, furniture and everything much like the New York movers. They are companies that help people or businesses bring in their stuff into that famous city with ease.

Where as the internet can be used to search for New York moving companies, unfortunately, that isn't the case yet in here. We are left to ask for referrals, newspaper ads, or worse, postings on walls or electrical posts.

Its hard to leave a place you called home. Bringing in your stuff to transfer makes it all the more inconvenient. It's funny that moving to New York with your things appears a lot easier than us moving to our next apartment, with our things in tow, to the next Barangay.