Countryside Sanctuary : Bellevue Bohol Hotel and Resort

Call me biased, but I will always favor Bohol than any other famous beach in the country.

This is my second time to visit Bellevue Hotel and Resort (BHR) in Panglao Island, Bohol.  My first trip was a company-sponsored event and there was very limited time to enjoy the place so I made a mental note to visit again with my family.  I knew my daughter will love it there.  We also had a summer vacation in Bohol many years ago and I’ve always thought that the beaches of Panglao Island are among the most beautiful in the country. I’m glad that the pristine beaches continue to be unspoiled by commercialization, at least, this side of Panglao.



Quite a sight to behold! I knew we'd be back for this!

Unlike our first family vacation in Bohol, we stayed bit longer and skip the country side tour packages, mainly just enjoy the place and have an endless time for relaxation before going back to the daily grind.

After 40-minutes or so of shuttle service from Tagbilaran airport to Bellevue Hotel and Resort, porters at the front façade will greet you with a welcome garland (was actually a local handicraft necklace). Checking-in was swift and efficient. I requested for two adjoining rooms and while this was not what were initially booked for us, the lady at the reception/check-in was able to find us the two connecting de luxe units at the ground floor, with a small patio that opens up to the pool area. Cool!  And yes, rooms have Wi-Fi and cable TV.

De luxe room with two twin bed set up

Bellevue Bohol at night. No filter. 

 Around the Resort

 

Beachfront with a view of the hotel and dining pavilions

 

Bellevue has a vast infinity pool that overlooks the beach. I love that the pool has been divided into areas for toddlers/young children to frolic, a modest 4-feet section for non-serious swimmers like me and a 12-feet dive pool.  There is a generous array of outdoor loungers/divans in front of the swimming pool and the beach, I spent one afternoon there in lazy splendor and toasting under the hot summer sun.  The platform at the center of the pool is ideal for those who love bikini-clad selfies with a dramatic view of the sea while draped on a lounger. Yes, you get the drift. But no, I didn't attempt to do one.

This platform is in the middle of the pool,
must be wonderful for after dark drinks and partying too!

The beach was something else. We spent one morning burning breakfast calories off via a 30-minutes of kayak.  Like most resorts, there are water sports and adventures to choose from like parasailing, catamaran ride, speed boat and the likes. The beach on this side of Panglao is littered with corals though hence people favor the pool better than swim at the beach.

Food and Dining

Bellevue Bohol boasts of two major dining facilities. The Lamian world cuisine is the air-conditioned dining hall where buffet breakfast is served daily.  The breakfast spread is 5 out of 5 for me, with wide variety of food choices as if you are in a metropolitan hotel’s breakfast buffet and that is a great way to jumpstart mornings. And I love their brewed coffee-- this is a make or break for me. During our stay, there were successions of corporate events at BHR and Lamian restaurant has been exclusively booked during lunch and dinner.

Alternatively, Marea offers al fresco dining experience and a wonderful view of the beach and the pool area, with live music entertainment even during week nights. The menu extensively covers local and international favorites, the taste, presentation and service definitely world-class. BHR can also set-up special themed-dinner buffet for company events like during our stay, there was a Luau-themed party at the beach front and another 80s themed dinner party with live band crooning to popular 80s dance music.

One ought to try their (gigantic bowl of) halo-halo and Pork Humba Boholano style.

Al fresco dining at Marea while a live band serenades with pop music

Other Activities at Bellevue Resort

I booked for a relaxing massage at the Azure Spa. They can also provide an in-room massage service if you so desire. Aside from spa and different types of massages, they also do facials and traditional hilot.  It was soooo soothing that I almost fell asleep while soft music and light scent of verbena drifts in the air! You are also treated to a strong brew of ginger tea after the massage.

I appreciate that BHR also offer a hosts of activities throughout the day like Koi-feeding, arts and crafts, Zumba, outdoor sports like volleyball or badminton, indoor facility for table tennis and other games – keeps boredom at bay especially for kids who might be looking for other ways to spend their energy other than in the pool!

Should you want to have a countryside tour or dolphin-watching with island-hopping, there is a DOT-accredited tour desk that can attend to you and cater for these arrangements. I decided to forego this time to have a stress-free holiday.

Bellevue Hotel and Resort truly lives up to its promise of Luxury of Sanctuary for travelers looking for a five star pampering, stress-free holiday at the countrysides! The staff are most wonderful, very professional, courteous and responsive to our special requests for Kevin's needs. 

 

Infinity pool overlooks the beach

The 2-ft section of the pool

If you consider doing some serious baking under the sun....

Early morning Kayak before the sun is out

View of the Marea restaurant and pavilion from our room's patio

This short boardwalk connects our room to the pool area

The busy Lamian restaurant during breakfast



Thanks to all the staff of Bellevue Hotel and Resort Bohol
for making this a wonderful vacation!



Acuatico Beach Resort Weekend Get Away

Looking for a short vacation south of Manila?

You may want to check out Acuatico Beach Resort in Laiya, San Juan, Batangas.  It is a 3-hr drive from Metro Manila which makes it a great choice for a weekend getaway.

There are 21 contemporary Balinese-designed rooms and villas.  If you don't like staying in crowded resorts (like me) and fighting for every inch of pool space, this is perfect!

Acuatico has a spacious infinity pool, or you may also head over the beach if you want to do some serious swimming, snorkeling, kayak or other water sports.

Acuatico comes with an in-house restaurant (Oceano, run by Tamayo's Catering) with buffet spread or you can opt to order a la carte at the pool-side bar (Acua Bar) for refreshing cocktails (and non-alcoholic drinks) and snacks.

If you want to stay connected, there is WIFI access and Cable TV in every room. We were fortunate to get a villa that is right in front of the infinity pool and loungers. When I don't feel like dipping in to the pool, I can simply snooze in front of the villa and relax.

They also have a facility for conference room that can house as much as 30-50 people, can accommodate theater seating arrangement style. Should be great for moderate sized company event.

Section of the Infinity Pool

Splish-splash at the Laiya Beach

  

Mid-afternoon snack in front of our 2-room pool-front villa

View of Acuatico from the beachfront

You-and-I Moment

 

Pool is well lit for night swimmers. This is view from Oceano.

Loungers at the Beachfront

Until the next time!

 

Vivere Azure: Haven of Serenity (Kevin's Birthday Vacation)

The soothing view of blue sea and sound of gentle rolling waters will always be Kevin’s favorite place to be. To celebrate his 15th birthday, 2015's choice was a 3-day R&R at Vivere Azure. 

Kevin loved to hang around at any place with great views of blue sea.
The Edge pool overlooks the Anilao's famous beach.
 

Worth the drive!

Tree Top Hideaway

Relaxing afternoon dip at the Edge pool

Early morning Kayak is a great exercise to burn those
calories from a hearty breakfast

...while I take more pictures of the beachfront



Our last brekky was served ala carte and I chose
Steak with mashed potato and vegetable sides

Vivere Azure is located at Anilao, Batangas and offers a five-star luxury boutique resort experience.  There are thirteen themed-rooms to choose from, each with a unique interior design. The rooms are cozy cottages spread over multi-level, so be prepared for some hike going up and down if you want to access the beach area or the pool area. 

We were able to book for the Enchant room which is one of their more spacious room, fit for a family of four and is closer to the beachfront but will require a hike if we wanted to go to the pool area. The room comes with equally luxurious amenities, has WiFi access and cable TV.

The package include meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Food lived up to its five-star quality promise.  The meals can be served buffet style on peak days/seasons or either family-style or straight from the ala carte menu during low season when there are fewer guests. 

We spent early morning at the beach by flexing our muscles using the kayaks and Kyla did little bit of snorkeling while Kevin and I got lazy over at the loungers.  Warning-- the beach is teeming with corals and rocks, so we thought it was wiser to stay at their Edge pool for swimming. The pool offers a relaxing view of the beach and if you stay long enough in the afternoon, you will get a glimpse of the glorious Anilao’s sunset.  Vivere Azure is the place to be if you seek peace and quiet kind of relaxation.

The staff are also very professional, accommodating and ready to anticipate your family’s needs.  I am also thankful that they granted my request for a birthday cake for Kevin which they delivered with a happy birthday song during our first dinner which coincided with Kevin’s actual birthday.

Overall, it has been a very relaxing three days… our kind of vacation where the view is glorious, food is a delight and there is nothing much to do except bask in the glow of disconnectedness from the daily grind.

More pictures...

Reception area.

Kevin's Birthday dinner.
The staff sang him the birthday song and gave him a birthday cake.

More from the reception area.

They have a recreation area at the mezzanine of the dining hall/bar area.

Family style candle light dinner

Sumptuous breakfast overlooking the sea

 

Our room had a small terrace that gives you a glimpse of the beach.
Kevin and Kyla loved to hang out in this area.

And finally, breathtaking view of the Anilao sunset.

It's More Fun in Cavinti!

(This blog was in Kyla's voice, used as a school project. Pictures were deliberately blurred to apply photo-editing techniques.)

My father was born and grew up in his hometown isn Cavinti, Laguna. 

 Cavinti is located at the eastern part of Laguna province at the fourth district. Nearby towns are Pansanjan, Luisiana, Lumban and Kalayaan and Quezon province. The rural town of Cavinti lies on top of a mountain, part of the Sierra Madre mountain ranges. There are 19 baranggays in Cavinti, Laguna. Farming is their main source of livelihood. The name of Cavinti province came from the expression “kabit sa binti.” The Aetas, the early dwellers of the land, performed a wedding ritual in which the groom chases his bride to the riverbank. The groom will try to capture his bride by her legs ("binti"), with the witnesses shouting, "Kabit sa binti, kabit sa binti!" This phrase later became "Kabinti.”

View of Caliraya Lake

View of Caliraya Lake from Japanese Garden

 

My father is from the Poblacion. Poblacion is the center of commercial and business activities in Cavinti. Almost all of the basic municipal facilities are located in Poblacion including the Municipal Hall, Town Plaza, ABC Multi-Purpose Hall, the Public Market. The Catholic Church (Transfiguration Parish) is located in Poblacion too.

 Here are other interesting facts about Cavinti:

Caliraya lake is one of the top attraction of Cavinti. This is actually a man-made lake located at the top of a mountain and is a venue for water sports. There are also several resorts around Caliraya lake like Caliraya Springs and Lagos del Sol.

The Caliraya lake spillway powers the hydroelectric power plant in Kalayaan-Lumban towns and is responsible to power up the southern part of Laguna.

Cavinti Trails

 

Pansanjan Falls is located in Cavinti, Laguna and is originally called Magdapio Falls but was renamed based on the name of the town where access to this falls can be made.

The Parish of Transfiguration in Cavinti is one of the oldest Church in the Philippines. The patron of Cavinti is San Salvador and his feast day is celebrated on August 6.

Cavinti is known for woven pandan hats and Lanzones.

The Sambalilo Festival is one of the most colorful and prosperous festival in the province of Laguna. It is celebrated that commemorates the handmade sombrero(hat) made from pandan. The Sambalilo festival is celebrated as part of the Cavinti town fiesta.

Sambalilo Festival and the Parish of Transfiguration Church

Cavinti’s new local official has been actively promoting this town as venue for water sports like wind surfing and dragonboat racing at the Caliraya lake. The Cavinti-Quezon trails is also becoming a venue for multi-sport such as marathon and mountain biking.

Harvesting Lanzones

 

Just like many provinces in the Philippines, Flores de Mayo festival is also one of the most awaited event of the year.  During the so-called Flores, the Tilapyaan which is a fund-raising dance by the elders and hermano mayors is also a popular local event.

Flores de Mayo

The Japanese Garden is a vast park overlooking the Caliraya lake, the creation of this park was subsidized by the Japanese government.

Entrance to the Park

One can explore and adventurous gateway to the world-famous Falls through Cavinti's very own Pueblo El Salvador Cavinti Nature's Park and Picnic Groove in barangay Tibatib-Anglas. One can enjoy the exciting nature's trail and feel the cold and oozing waterfalls through an exciting bamboo raft-ride and massage on the fall's basin. Shooting the Cavinti Rapids is and equally wonderful experience.

Guest can also enjoy the breathtaking views of nearby Mount Banahaw along the man-made lakes of Caliraya and Lumot. Sailing, wind surfing and kayaking are just some of the many activities you can indulge along the lake areas. There are sites that still remain untapped and unexplored in Cavinti, like the Bumbungan Twin Falls, The Cavinti Underground River and Caves Complex, the Bayakan Falls and Bat Cave.

Cavinti is going to be one of the fastest rising town of Laguna at the forefront of eco-sports tourism!

Fear

This post resurrects my lost love for poetry.  Poems bring to life that hidden voice in our psyche on thoughts, both real and abstract.

Last week, I received a special gift from Lau, a friend and colleague. It was a book of poems Things Happen, written (and signed) by his father Cirilo F. Bautista, the National Artist for Literature.  I thank Lau not only for the book, but also for reawakening the lost poet within.

And while I can only dream of having my own anthology published, I meanwhile bask in this little world for a few seconds of fleeting attention.

Starting with this poem I wrote in the late 90s. 

Fear

I smelled fear.

Yours.

Veiled contempt

cloaked in blank stares

and aggression.

But then,

I see what is real.

And I saw your fear.

I smelled fear.

Floating adrift

with the stale air.

Trying

to cut through me.

But instead it cut you.

I smelled fear.

Crouching in your darkness.

Fleeing.

But then,

you cannot hide from me.

I will find you.

Aling Taleng's Halo Halo

If you happen to go for a road trip further south of Laguna- to the Pagsanjan-Cavinti road, don't miss a chance to drop by Aling Taleng's Halo-halo. It has been in business since 1933.

Halo Halo goodness!

My husband hails from Cavinti and we have actually passed by Aling Taleng's more than a hundred times over many years.  When we returned to the Philippines in 2013, we noticed that Aling Taleng's usual hole-in-the-corner look is sporting splashes of sunny colors, making it stand out from an otherwise busy small town road. The place is also air-conditioned which is a welcome treat especially during hot and humid seasons in the Philippines.

It is actually more than just a halo halo kiosk, it is a restaurant that serves a full menu of local favorites ranging from all-day breakfast, seafood, chicken cooked different ways, sinful crispy pata, pata tim, lechon kawali and vegetable dishes. They also have the diner-variety faves like fried chicken and burger.

My favorite is the Tortang Patola.  Saw this in the menu and really got curious... I was not disappointed. Minced patola with a perfect coat of golden batter, crisp on the outside but surprisingly tasty for a quite-bland veggie. Whenever we dine at Aling Taleng's, Kyla and I look forward to ordering the Tortang Patola. We also love the Crispy Tilapia and the Butter & Garlic Chicken.

Loved the Tortang Patola

Garlic Fried Chicken

Not to forget the star of the menu -- the halo halo, but of course! The serving is generous with finely shaved ice and topped with a sweetened kundol. I am not a fan of halo halo but I would make an exception for Aling Taleng's. I particularly like finely shaved ice bits, halo halo is not overly sweet and ingredients have generous portions. The sweet kundol topping also worked for me instead of the usual ice cream. Definitely worth a trip!

And oh, you will be delighted to know that they have Wifi too!