Subscribing at Manila On Sale fired up the shopaholic in me! With its daily updates on which establishments or malls are on promo, I became not only updated with the discounts but also became a frequent mall visitor! Good thing I also have a Herculean-frugal-soul, or else I would be paying debts for life! Chos.

So one of the updates this June was the mid-year sale of Fullybooked in BGC Atrium, Taguig. It announced that books are commonly priced at P50 to 200 only, and some are offered with as high as 50% discount! Right after knowing this, I urged my friends to go book shopping with me.





These were some of the racks with hundreds of books on sale!

To be honest, I expected too much on the discounted books. Those available were mostly on the historical genre and philosophical fiction.  I thought and secretly hoped these would include the must-grab YA books, those books by authors of this generation or even the classical ones which were only skimmed through during our high school English literature subjects.

However, I don't wanna be mistaken as a hater of this book sale. I still loved its collection!! I will definitely drop by again Fullybooked when I'm not carrying a big shoulder bag and heavy groceries! Haha.

So if you have time, go visit Fullybooked, BGC branch!! Definitely an eye-candy to all those bookworms! :D

I was having my very usual Monday mood-- feeling lazy and tired to start my week, but pushing myself to get motivated. Weird, right? So I insisted that my friends and I should meet that night to listen to each other's rants. We did, although I was a bit too early for our meet up, so I decided to kill time in Starbucks since I'm also craving for my favorite Cinnamon Danish.
The barista (whose name I forgot to ask, which is very ignorant of me) happily greeted me and asked how my day was. She even said I looked pretty! After hearing such cheerful and flattering remark, my mood got up. All thanks to the viral happy mood of the barista!

That's when I realized how small compliments help in shaping one's mood. I did not instantly became happy after her remarks but I kinda wanted to smile with no reason!
So from now on, my daily goal is to 'happify' one's day by giving small compliments like "your hair looks extra good today," or "you look slim." 

 So, thanks to the lady basrista for happifying my day!
Hooraay for the happy days to come! :D

Having a spontaneous trip can be really challenging especially when you don't know where in particular you wanna go, and how you would get there! But all thanks to the internet, I have read various blogs saying that the Sand Dunes Paoay experience in Ilocos Norte is really a must! Two hours of travel from Vigan, I must say that it was all worth it!

It is in the city of Laoag, Ilocos Norte where you can find the famous La Paz Sand Dunes, which is greater than 80 hectares of pure sand and seems like an Egyptian desert. Lels! Upon seeing such fantastic view, I was amazed how the locals have thought of making a living out of the plain, sandy area, without sacrificing its natural beauty. True enough, not only does the Sand Dunes serve as a tourist spot, but also a natural barrier from risks of flash floods and sea surges. Be more amazed and read this article from the Laoag City website! :)


If you're wondering how we explored the vast land of Paoay Sand Dunes, we took the 4x4 ride! It costs P2,500, can accommodate 5 persons, and lasts for one hour of roaming around Sand Dunes, Suba beach and you can experience sand boarding! They also have other offers like a 4x4 ride for 30 minutes which costs only P800 (which I think will only just pass by the beach). But in my opinion, take advantage of hiring the 4x4 for one hour to fully enjoy the view and the sand boarding!

Riding the 4x4 was really thrilling since there were a lot of slopes along the way which made it more exciting! The whole ride felt like we were in a roller coaster ride! Haha!

Check out this cute, pink 4x4! Hehe <3
Before reaching the area where you can try sand boarding, we passed by the places where a lot of shootings of local celebrities were held. There was a commemorative statue of Nora Aunor because of her movie, "Himala," and Fernando Poe Jr. (RIP+) of "Panday."

The exact place where Nora said the famous line,
"Walang himala! Ang himala ay nasa puso ng tao, nasa puso nating lahat!" HAHA
The place where Panday defeated Lizardo! Yay!
The very trendy Himala hashtag which virtually poured us good vibes! Haha! *goosebumps!*
SAND BOARDING EXPERIENCE
Upon seeing how steep the area where the sand board would slide, I initially got scared! Haha. I was scared that I would get hurt, dislocate my bones, or probably die *knock on wood* HAHA. I even asked the kuya's there if there were cases of bone dislocation or death. They just laughed and said that nothing severe ever happened to those who have tried the activity.

The sand boarding has three levels according to the steepness of the hill. Of course I made my first trial on the least steep area! Watch my FAIL first attempt! Haha.

A video posted by Faye Calangi (@racelline) on
It may look bad but this wasn't THAT bad for a first timer! And also, Sorry for my squeals! HAHA. It was really fun!! I got a little bruised but it was really WORTH IT. I really wasn't hurt! :))

I had a successful-standing-sandboarding-attempt but was videoed using my officemate's phone so I don't have a copy! But I promise, I succeeded!!! And it was done on the 2nd steeper slide! Beat that! (Chos) HAHA

So for the steepest slide, of course I feared for my life and the kuya's also didn't recommend me to try sand boarding while standing so I just done it seated. It was really easy, but still quite scary! Haha.


SUBA BEACH
Afterwards, we passed by the Suba beach and had our photos taken! We were grateful that our guides, Punso and Joseph, were really skilled in taking photos! According to them, they're used of using iPhones and DSLRs, and they even know how to use the Panorama! :)



One hour really came by fast! Our day was just starting and this was the first activity in our one-day tour in Ilocos Norte, but it felt like we've already had the adventure we desired!!! So if it happens that you want to go to Ilocos Norte, DON'T DARE MISS THE SAND DUNES EXPERIENCE. You'll never regret it! <3

Since I attended an annual convention of the Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dietitians in Vigan last 18-19 June 2015, I took the opportunity to explore the City of Vigan before I head back to Manila.

Getting there: (MLA-VIGAN)
In Cubao Partas bus terminal, we rode the Deluxe Bus bound to Vigan at 10:00PM. The deluxe bus is airconditioned, with a large, cozy seat with bigger leg room. The bus fare was relatively more expensive compared to the regular buses (Php 805), since you paid for the on-the-road comfort. Imagine traveling for approx. 7 hours, with an uncomfortable seat! Better save up on booking deluxe buses to avoid a restless travel! :)
Upon reaching Vigan, you can already ride tricycles towards your desired location. It would be a lesser hassle if you have hired a private vehicle beforehand. :)

All about Vigan & its places
One of the oldest towns in the Philippines, Vigan is the capital city of Ilocos Sur, and was known by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Just this year, it has been declared one of the New Seven Wonder Cities around the world, along with Beirut (Lebanon), Doha (Qatar), Durban (South Africa), Havana (Cuba), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), and La Paz (Bolivia).
Well, who would have doubted? Vigan has highly maintained the Spanish culture, and even preserved its fused Asian and European colonial architecture and design. Once you’re there, you feel like you went back in the Spanish era where the houses were made with dark woods and cobblestones, and the mode of transportation was through riding a ‘kalesa’ or a horse-drawn calash.
Won't miss a photo opp with our kelasa horsie! :)
With just Php150, you can already tour around the town proper while riding the kalesa! Of course, we didn’t let the opportunity pass and had our own kalesa tour! Yay! The places we were able to visit were as follows:

BANTAY BELL TOWER
Built in 1951, the Bantay Bell tower served as the people's watchtower in cases when possible enemies enter the city. When you reach the peak, you can see the beautiful panoramic view of Vigan. For a belfry, it's relatively easy to climb (except for older people).
Upon entering the Bell Tower compound
The old, huge bell found at the top of the bell tower
Just a few meters from the bell tower is the St. Augustine Church built in 1590. It is one of the few oldest churches which survived shocks of earthquakes for the past decades.
In front of the St. Augustine Church
CALLE CRISOLOGO
Known as Vigan's most famous district, it is where you can find an array of heritage houses which had survived centuries of calamities and disasters. It is also where antique and souvenir shops are located.
The very picturesque district in Vigan
There were also some restaurants on the district, and we tried Lampong's! It was an ultimate bagnet station where majority of the items in the menu are made from Bagnet (Lechong Kawali).

BURGOS NATIONAL MUSEUM
Also known as the Padre Burgos House, the museum is one of the most historic structures found in Vigan. Unfortunately, we weren't able to explore the museum since it's already closed (4:50PM). They probably don't accept last minute visitors since they strictly close by 5PM.

To know more about the collections available in the museum, you can have a glimpse by visiting their website. :)

BURNAYAN (POTTERY-MAKING)
Burnayan comes from the root word Burnay, which refers to hand-crafted pots made from Bantog clays. In here, you can find different sizes of jars made by the locals. You can also watch them demonstrate pot-making, which really looked fun and at the same time, challenging and tedious! Was not able to take photos of the place, but the internet sure has a lot of pictures available.

Beside the Burnayan is a small compound where you can buy souvenir items for a cheaper price! We even felt bad that we already bought native blankets from the public market, whereas the blankets available in the souvenir shops were more colorful and a little more cheaper!

PLAZA SALCEDO
This was not included in our kalesa tour, but you'll surely pass by this plaza anytime. Try not to miss the Dancing Fountain held every 7:30 PM in the plaza. The exhibit runs for 30 minutes which presents 3-4 colorful song and water-dance numbers! It was fun and relaxing to watch all the swirling colors changing with the beat!



These are just few places you can visit when you go to Vigan! Make sure to do researches on the places you wanna go for a more stress-free trip! In my case, I only squeezed in the Kalesa tour with the convention I attended in Vigan, so I was not able to really stroll around the city. But I think that's the beauty about having limited time, you've got to appreciate everything you were able to see and will promise yourself to definitely come back! :)

Last June 8-9, we held our team building activity in Baguio. It was a short trip, but we've managed to squeeze into our schedule the must-see places in Baguio! :)

GO-TO PLACES! 

LION'S HEAD
Photo opt with the Lion's head!
It is a famous attraction along Kennon Road. Don't forget to take a photo with it, since it's just along your way to Baguio City proper! :))

CAMP JOHN HAY
Another famous tourist attraction in Baguio is Camp John Hay, which primarily contributes to why Baguio was known as "Little America." It is the former rest and recreational facility for the US Armed Forces, and later developed into modern structures like resorts, parks, and hotels. It is also where you could find famous attractions like The Manor, Bell Amphitheater, Bell House, Eco-trail, Secret Garden and Lost Cemetery.

CEMETERY OF NEGATIVISM
Also known as the Lost Cemetery, this is not the typical cemetery we often got to on All Saint's day. You can find here different tombstones where negative vibes were buried, instead of dead people. The place was really striking since the messages engraved in the tombstones were deep and meaningful.

It was said that the messages 'buried' in each tombstone represents the negative thoughts of the soldiers back in the 1980's. They were asked to bury these since negativity can make the soldiers unproductive and may limit their potential, hence make them weak! It can be a good practice, instead of doing bad things or worse, committing suicide due to suppressed emotions!

BELL HOUSE/AMPHITHEATER
In front of the Bell House
The former vacation house of General Franklin Bell, converted into a museum of American colonial architecture and lifestyle. The furniture and fixtures were still in place and gives a vintage feel! I felt like I was transported to the ancient times! Hehe :)
Bell Amphitheater
Outside the house is the amphitheater which also serves as a historical site in Baguio. It was very picturesque and can be a nice place to chill and relax with the amazing view.

TAM-AWAN VILLAGE
Tam-awan!
It is a museum-ish village showcasing the Cordilleran culture and art thru paintings, traditional huts, and Ifugao art. It is another place which can give you a historic feel with the ambiance, structures and scenes. 
With Ms. Rea
NPPD girls on the bridge!

BENCAB MUSEUM
In front of BenCab
One of the most famous museums in the Philippines today, BenCab Museum is owned by the National Artist Ben Cabrera. The 4-level museum showcases BenCab's art collection made by himself and other known contemporary artists in the country.

Whoa there!
'Whoa' some more!
 Probably the most famous (and controversial) part of the museum was the Erotica gallery which houses different art forms depicting erotic scenes, hence the name of the gallery. It is where people often goof around when posing for souvenir photos! Hehe.
The Sad Republic
Wasn't able to take good photos of the "Ode to the Flag" exhibit displayed when we visited the museum, but the photo above was my favorite among others. The exhibit was in commemoration of the upcoming Independence day (June 12) of the Philippines.

MT. CLOUD BOOKSHOP
Signage pointing to Mt. Cloud!
For book lovers like me, this bookshop is heaven! This is where you can find affordable novels and books by local Filipino authors, which are indeed very good reads!
View from the 2nd level of the bookshop.

FOOD TRIPS!

CHOCO-LATE DE BATIROL
Entrance of the garden.
Of all the strolling and sight-seeing we've done, we finally headed to the Choco-late de Batirol Garden  Restaurant known for their signature hot 'tsokolate' drink made from local cacao beans, which is really perfect for Baguio's chilly weather. Besides their famous drink, they also serve meals suitable for breakfast in combination with their hot tsokolate.

YUMMY!
I tried their Bibingka and Almond Tsokolate. One bibingka is good for two not-so-hungry people, already! Hehe.
Check out their delicious rice meals (and other dishes)!
And of course, variety of tsokolate's to choose from!
Check out their menu for more affordable dishes! Your Baguio trip won't be complete without dining in here!

KETCHUP FOOD COMMUNITY
Hello, Kuya Photobomber! :))
The Ketchup Food Community consists of 5 restaurants which cater different dishes-- Canto, Green Pepper, Happy Tummy, Rancho Norte and Rumah Sate. You can dine anywhere and cross-order with the other restaurants for more food choices! Our group dined at Rumah Sate, a Thai restaurant. since other restau's were fully-occupied. Others (including me) ordered from Canto since we were not up for some Thai food. 
Time for a groufie! :)
Canto Burger. Not endorsing UFC ketchup, btw!!! :))
I ordered the classic Canto Burger which was tasty and affordable (fairly large for a P190-worth meal). The others ordered half-slab ribs with mashed potato (or rice, your choice) which were also very affordable and delicious!! Canto's dishes were generally topnotch! :) The red iced tea was ordered from Rumah.

The others who ordered in Rumah were not greatly satisfied since according to them, the dishes do not taste like authentic Thai food. But anyway, no time for regrets!


Overall, our team building activity (slash 'gala') was very fun! We got to see a lot of famous places in Baguio eventhough we only stayed there overnight. The photo above was taken in the place where we stayed at-- Europa Condominiums-- which was really spacious and clean. :D

So I finally decided to put up my life's monthly updates to pressure myself (lol) into being more productive! Hope this helps! :))

1) June started pretty rough at work. During the first week, I experienced three straight days of OTs!  :(( For the record, that's a big thing for me since our OT's aren't paid! Hayy, life is hard!

2) I'm handling a project at work which is a good thing since it can be a means of my contract renewal!!! (Contract ends at the 30th!!)

3) Renewed my passport (as I have detailed in one of my blogposts this month! :>)

4) I have finally, finally, finally registered for my PRC license! Failed to do such last year since accdg to our law, RNDs cannot register for their license unless they're > 21 years old. (Which I'm really against at!! Why allow us to take the exam in the first place??) Anyway, all's settled and I can finally get my license on July!! :))

The bloody oath form! Luckily, they allowed me to use my oath form accomplished last year during my first registration attempt! :)
5) Still convincing myself to get fit/ work out often! Self discipline, please!

6) Went to Baguio with my officemates as our team building activity this year! :)

Team NPPD at the Lion's Head
7) Celebrated independence day with my relatives. Night swimming!! :))

8) Went to Vigan for the Philippine Society of Nutritionist-Dietitians (PSND) Convention, and had a one-day side trip in Pagudpud and Laoag! :)

9) My office BFF, Tin, will be leaving by the end of the month... I'll be all alooone! :((

xx,

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” 
― Albert Einstein