The Lake Hotel Tagaytay: The Ultimate Family Hotel in Tagaytay

 By Frank Ruaya & Mae Ilagan on April 25, 2013

 

The Lake Hotel Tagaytay 

meet Rod Salazar Reyna, the pride of The Lake Hotel Tagaytay

be sure to  play the video for maximum reading pleasure

When in Manila and in need of fresh air and a quick well deserved retreat, I believe Tagaytay will always be one of the ideal places to go to, due to its cool breezy climate and short distance from busy stressful Manila. With the countless hotels and inns offering their hospitality services and all relatively having the same rates, how could you know which hotel to choose then? With this, allow me to once again share with you my personal experiences about this new place I discovered – The Lake Hotel Tagaytay 

 It was one of those days  when I had another episode of my wanderlust addiction. No known antidote still ( yay!) I had no plan (as always). It was one of those impromptu trips where I even arrived at the bus terminal around noon where all passengers were hopelessly waiting for a bus to arrive. I felt hopeless for a moment (around 5 secs) with the thought that my whole weekend might be ruined, without something new to experience and no tale to tell. It was heartbreaking! But no, there was no turning back! I’m never the person who easily gives up! If there’s a will, then there’s a way!

without any hesitation, I left the long queue and hopped on the next departing bus and begged the conductor and driver to take me as a chance passenger! I remember saying, ” Manooooooong pasabit!!” lols

Every time I passed by the Aguinaldo highway, I always felt curious and captivated by The Lake Hotel‘s facade due to its very clean minimalist structure and landscaping. There has always been this force which lures me to this place so I thought to myself, it’s time to experience what The Lake Hotel had to offer

 touchdown!

 I was greeted with  a set of the brightest warmest smiles I’ve encountered! I immediately felt I was in good hands! 

The Lake Hotel Tagaytay’s Deluxe Lake View Room

I was very lucky that day for I was able to get their room with the best view – the Deluxe Lake View room! I soooo loved everything about my room! Upon entering I noticed the extra single bed. It was only then when I found out that my home for the weekend, The Lake Hotel was actually a kid-friendly family hotel, so their rooms were all designed to fit around a family of 4!  

I only have praises for this room! Exceeded all my expectations! I find it to be simple yet elegant. Not as lavish compared to 5 star hotels of course, but the comfort and quality it had was way above its standard.  It was a very cozy room with lots of natural sunlight coming in! I loved the earthy toned color scheme.  Ideal for families and honeymooners! hihihi

I adored the veranda a lot! I remember spending quality “me” and tea times there while gazing at Taal Volcano’s magnificence!

My view from the veranda!

 After that relaxing “me” and tea time, I treated myself onto a nice warm bubble bath!

Pampering oneself after a full work week is never a bad idea! For me, it’s part of rewarding myself and respecting my own body. Also, we are all aware that stress is the primary source of fatal diseases so make sure to know how to manage and relieve it!

…after a few hours, just before the sun descended, I woke up with the sound of giggling kids joyfully frolicking by The Lake Hotel‘s infinity pool. I went down the garden and sat at one corner beside the pool and turned on my Paparazzi mode. Nobody seemed to notice me. For a while, I felt invisible, as if I didn’t exist and strangely felt…. happy! I was an observer then, capturing moments normal people often took for granted. A genuine smile, a mom’s tender hug, a tap on the shoulder. I couldn’t stop my index finger from clicking the shutter and adjusting my aperture and shutter speeds to make sure I captured all there was to immortalize. 

 precious moments

Seated peacefully I was, with a mind soaring with ideas and realizations. 

The images I captured were so simple yet sweet and so priceless that  I wished I can someday show them the shots.

Then all of a sudden without any warning, music from a live performer filled the whole place….

As I gazed and worshiped the sunset, I felt so relaxed and eased with the music playing at the background. I went to the lobby where the pianist (Rod Salazar Reyna) performed and noticed the guests were singing along with each familiar tune he played. They didn’t sing out loud but I could tell by the soft murmurs their lips made. It was my 1st ever time to experience a live piano player serenading the guests on a normal weekend afternoon in a hotel. He was such a delight to listen to!

 For dinner, I ordered an all Filipino course. I was surprised with the huge serving of their Ensalada complete with green mangoes, steamed okra, grilled eggplant, salted eggs, sliced tomatoes, dried fish and fish paste. It looked more like a platter and I highly recommend you order this when you visit The Lake Hotel!

Before going back to my room, I ordered a glass of Blue Margarita to celebrate the day’s little achievements. Yeah, I always find reasons to celebrate no matter how big or small my achievements were. It has been my habit to always find the good in any situation. As for this day, I rewarded myself for being brave enough to hop on that jam-packed bus! I’m so proud of myself for not giving up! =) 

When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P 9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687/09222737836.

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Travel & Adventure: When Festivities meet Beauty “Panaad Sa Negros”

 By Mic Caldo on April 23, 2013

Apr 8: The opening day.

 Meet the 2012 Lin-Ay’s: Sherrize (left),  Jemaimah (Right). They will turn over the crown. Wink!

 Meet Samyah, the Lin-Ay Queen. Yes, we are happy and wacky. Seriously,  I forced her for  a wacky shot!

When In Manila, have you celebrated 32 festivals in a day? I bet you don’t. Come and join me in the ride. I beat Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in terms of adventure, this time. Oh, come on where are you J.R.R. Tolkien? This will make a good adventure novel, I mean yeah there’s more stories here like that of your Middle Earth. But yes, maybe not as dramatic as ‘The Lord of the Rings’ or ‘The Hobbit’. Telling stories of a region celebrating gazillions or hundreds of festivals a year might demand a J.R.R Tolkien. But for this time, I get to do it. Hi Tolkien, so our journey and adventure goes…

So yes, brand Negros Occidental as the ‘island of festivals’ and fun. That’s simply well deserved. Panaad sa Negros Festival is coined as the ‘Festival of Festivals’ or simply the mother of it all. This time of the year again starting the summer month of April, where Panaad Park and Stadium at Bacolod City is the place to be. Imagine this, 13 cities and 19 municipalities converge in one place to showcase whatever they had. FUN, that’s all I can say. Well, what do you have? It’s all here, food, friends, french fries, hot dogs or simply all those cities/towns can offer. Let me repeat it, FUN plus GORGEOUSNESS.

PANAAD sa NEGROS Festival

Panaad sa Negros Festival was started way back 1994, and now is on its 20th year. I mean I don’t get it if it started 1994, my math says 1994 + 20 equals 2014. Am just kidding, yes its the 20th year (just testing your math skills, insert smile here). All cities and municipalities built a permanent shelter on the said Park and Stadium, sell their products (arts, crafts, agricultural stuff and yes including DINNER) and showcase the town’s culture in miniature size. Thus, touring around the Panaad Park might mean you have toured around the entire island in a day. Now, come on Frodo and Bilbo Baggins hope you enjoy the Shire or Mordor? Come on over with me, next year.

Panaad sa Negros is an entire week of festivities and shopping galore, I mean you’ll enjoy it a lot til your pockets getting bankrupt. Join me or you can do window shopping maybe. Celebration opens last April 8 2013, with festival dancing and merry-making competitions. Count seven days and it ends, but yes many stuff happens in between like Latin dance, Sports, Rondalla, Beauty Pageant and etc. Yes that’s everybody’s favorites, beauty pageant. And take note, there’s none like it in the Lord of the Rings. Bailes de Luces of the Town of La Castellana wins the Opening Festival Dance, followed by Kabankalan, and Binalbagan respectively. Sounds cool, that’s my hometown right there. The counterpart of The Shire that is.

Here’s some adventure lessons for you, you might learn here some festival names. I leaned this by talking to people. If you’re town’s not there… maybe i haven’t interviewed someone there.

1. La Carlota City – Pasalamat Festival (Pasalamat means ‘giving of thanks’)
2. Silay City – Hugyaw Silay / Kansilay (Hugyaw means shout? Kansilay is a Tree)
3. Cauayan – Lubay-Lubay (Swing of bamboos. Town’s name from Kawayan/Bamboo, not the singer please)
4. Murcia – Tinabu-ay (Meeting), they also have MudPack festival. Its MUD. Imagine that.
5. Bacolod City – Yes, that famous Masskara Festival. Masskara means Mask, I know it.
6. Escalante – Manlambus (Visayan term mean ‘to strike’, as for fishing. Striking the fishes is fun.)
7. Sagay City – Sinigayan. Sinagayan pertains to shells, am i right Miss Sagay? Wew. This is hard. Sagay is known for marine life and conservation, honestly i want to fly there now. Really.
8. Cadiz City – Dinagsa (term for arrival or has arriving). They are also know for Ati-atihan.
9. Ilog – Kisi-Kisi (Wiggling/movement of fishes?). Ilog is know for crabs, oysters or all kinds of seafoods. Miss Ilog told me, its the first capital of Negros. Wow. That’s so cool, makes me wanna visit there soon.
10. San Carlos – PintaFlores (literally means Paint and Flowers), cool that is.
11. Hinoba-an – Pagbanaag (Sunrise or yes dawn before sunrise? Take your pick.)
12. Bago City – Babaylan (it means a local Faith healer, like an albolaryo). We have a deep discussion of this word, good thing Miss Bago is patient with me. I thought the word means differently, thanks for her really.
13. La Castellana – Bailes de Luces (spanish tern meaning ‘dance of lights’). Have you watched showtime? They are becoming famous huh. FUN. They also have Banana Festival, they do celebrate it with showcase of guess what, Banana.
14-32. Yes, I have done my research. Kindly do yours too. Please… I’ve read a lot, hope you too!

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When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P 9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687/09222737836.

Nemo and Friends’ Survival In The Reefs Of TUBBATAHA

 By Miah Montemayor on April 22, 2013

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When in Manila, especially in this kind of scorching hot weather, we dream of cool breeze, the sand, the shore… the beach! It’s also during this season that we wish we had a life, like Nemo’s… preferably in a haven, no other than the reefs of Tubbataha.

by Poch Ceballos
(Say “Hi” to Nemo… Although this one’s for real!)

Chances are, we no longer have to endure the effects of heat on land but suddenly become helpless, if not homeless, because of sea vessels ran aground causing huge destruction to the coral reefs of Tubbataha that houses Nemo (clownfish) and some friends.

Meet a few of Nemo’s friends:

by Jayvee Fernandez
(green sea turtle)

by Bambi Flaviano
(a friendly Manta ray striked a pose at the count of three!)

by George Esguerra
(moray eel)

Briefly, Tubbataha is a Samal word which means “a long reef exposed at low tide”. It has two large atolls, the North and the South. An atoll is a type of island consisting of ribbon reef that has a unique geology wherefore the reefs of Tubbataha became apropos of a sanctuary to approximately 1,084 combined species of fish, whales, sharks, coral and birds. No doubt UNESCO declared Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park as a World Heritage Site.

by Tet Lara
(out of approximately 1,084 different species, 600 of which are fish)

by Karl Hurwood
(grey reef shark)

by Tet Lara
(Hawksbill Turtle and critically-endangered)

by Teri Aquino
(Tubbataha’s Bird Isle)

However, nature has its way to claim ownership over what is rightfully hers so that she does as she pleases. During which, the reefs of Tubbataha had gotten two blows in a quarter of a year. We all heard about the USS Guardian sweeping about 4,000 square metres of healthy corals when it ran aground on South atoll. Then, recently, a Chinese Fishing boat crashed recklessly into the country’s rich waters.

For these reasons, we are bound to ask of the effects of these casualties to the reefs and the imminent danger to the habitat, especially its dwellers.

by Tet Lara
(Deep-blue-sea encounter with marbled rays)

by Danny Ocampo
(Giant mantas are the largest of rays)

by Gregg Yan
(Sooty terns fill the Tubbataha sky)

As asserted by Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, Vice Chair and CEO of World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines, “Many people who don’t dive or who don’t understand marine environment tend to get fixated on corals.” He argues that we don’t eat coral, we eat fish. It so happened the destruction was on the coral that houses the fish. He added, that the damage is minimal, “But WWF is making a big deal out of it because it’s not the size but food security. It’s the future.”, he continued. Giving us an idea of what that future is about, “Most reefs in the Philippines only have 15-tonnes by a mass per square kilometer. While Tubbataha has 200-300 tonnes / square kilometer!” Thus, Vice Chair and CEO mused on the small damage on the coral reef, “Because every single square meter counts!”.

by Keith Lapuos
(this is why every single square meter counts)

Concluded on the next page…

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When in Cebu City, please visit http://www.gregmelep.com for your real estate and retirement needs. Avail of the opportunity to own a condominium unit in Cebu City at the low amount of only P 9,333.33 and House and Lot @ P 7,306.81/month only. Hurry while supply of units still last. Just call the Tel. Nos. shown herein: (053)555-84-64/09155734856/09173373687/09222737836.