Tag: lifestyle

Life After Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

After checking out of the “colonial” resort in Bataan we were transported back to the present – physically and mentally! ! Our “borrowed” driver and his wife picked us up at the resort on time and drove us to Project 4 where we sorted our dirty clothes for washing. We also opened our stored luggage to select “fresh” clothes (though the smell is not as fresh) to take with us for the weekend. (FYI – laundry is charged by kilogram and you can receive it back washed and folded in two hours).

My sister, Dr. Linda Valdepeñas, generously offered to “pamper” us before going to Tagaytay to attend our friends’ 25th wedding anniversary. She and my nephew Albert picked us up and drove us to Dasmariñas, Cavite. As it was already noon by the time we reached SM Dasmariñas we stopped by for lunch in a Chinese-Filipino fusion cuisine restaurant. I was craving for patatim (braised pork slow-cooked in savory sauce to the point where the meat falls off the bones) so we ordered one along with other delicious dishes. It was heavenlicious! After the sumptuous lunch, we headed to Cre8 Salon a franchise owned by my niece, Dr. Ting Patriarca (Linda’s daughter).

Trivia about SM Mall – SM Supermall or just simply SM was pioneered by Henry Sy, a Chinese-Filipino businessman now one of the richest in the Philippines. SM started as a shoe store in Quiapo (a district in Manila) under the Shoemart name. In 1972, Shoemart turned into a full-line department store. Today, there are 95 SM malls (87 in the Philippines and 8 in China).

My sister, Dr. Linda Valdepeñas and meI

I had a foot spa with mani-pedi (manicure and pedicure). The foot treatment was so relaxing I think I dozed off a little bit. Trini had the “whole nine-yards” – hair color and a slight trim off the back and gel mani-pedi. All these Linda paid for (or maybe not since her daughter owns the place)!

Since Trini was not finished with her beauty treatment yet, I asked my brother-in-law, Robert Valdepeñas, where I can buy Filipino tobacco. He took me to Kultura (a tourist “trap” store) where they sell expensive Philippine products. I bought a box of 12 small hand rolled robusto cigars. The price is almost the price I pay for my Nicaraguan cigars! I hope they’re worth it.

Our massage appointment was at 3:00 pm and Trini was not completely done with her nails yet, so we went ahead to Nuat Thai Foot and Body Massage which was just several shops away from Cre8 Salon. Linda is part owner of Nuat Thai along with her daughter, Ting. I noticed that this entire mall level was comprised of salons catering to women – nails, hair, eyebrows, waxing, massage, teeth, etc. Who says vanity is not profitable?

I had a horrible experience many years ago in Bangkok, Thailand with Thai massage which I felt was more a technique used in interrogating prisoners by the VietCong. Hence, I opted for the less manipulative Swedish style. I would give my masseur above-average, he was skillful but I felt that he was hurried, maybe because there were customers already waiting.

Relaxed and tension gone, we all jumped into the brand new comfortable and spacious Toyota Hiace Grandia (one of Linda’s vehicles). We headed to their newly-renovated two-level home in a Dasmariñas subdivision. It was the first time to visit their house and as a welcome tradition, Robert offered a libation to the “housing gods”. He opened one of his single malt whiskey (one of many pricey liquors among his collections). Single malt is my preferred whiskey.

By the time I chugged down two shots of the Scotch it was ready for us to go.

Trini, Linda and Robert in front of their house

Again, my sister paid for our two night hotel stay at the Summit Ridge. The hotel is located centrally and shops and restaurants within walking distance. Our room was very spacious and overlooking the lake (partially blocked by a structure).

That night, we had a restful sleep, thanks to Linda!

The following day, we attended the 25th wedding anniversary of our friend from Los Angeles, CA who we met while we were working at the U.S. Embassy in Manila – Manny and Fines Nieva. The venue was at Lazuli Hotel Resort in Tagaytay. It was a beautiful garden wedding overlooking the famous Taal Lake and volcano. We were honored to be one of the sponsors.

Manny Nieva
Fines with their two sons
Fines saying her vows
Elsie and Louie Miranda
Trini with Ana Ting-Nieva from Monterey Park, CA
The couple with their female sponsors (Ninang)

BAGUIO ROAD TRIP Part 2

Baguio  is a city in the Autonomous Cordillera Region. It is known as the “Summer Capital of the Philippines”, owing to its cool climate since the city is located approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. It’s also known as the “City of Pines” due to the numerous pine trees that surround the city. The last time we were there was more than 20 years ago and I can see a big transformation in the city scape – numerous condominium buildings have “sprouted”; they now have a big SM Mall (the biggest chain mall in the Philippines), colorful homes similar to the South American favelas dot the hillsides.

We arrived in Baguio City at around 7:00 pm. Driving in the Philippines at night is somewhat dangerous unless you’ve been driving here for a long time, but driving the long narrow winding road with increasing altitude after sunset is not for amateurs! I saw motorcycles without their head lights on barreling down the highway at high speeds not caring if the oncoming traffic can even see them! Slow overloaded trucks seem to clog the highway slowing following traffic. Fortunately, our skillful and safety-conscious driver knew how to maneuver these “obstacles”!

Finally, we reached Edy Retardo’s (another cousin of Trini) house in Mirador Hills a few kilometers outside of the city. But getting there was another challenge to our driver since the narrow (really narrow) streets with sharp turns and steep grades (I kid you not) were “treacherous” to navigate! Oncoming vehicles have to stop or back out for others to pass.

The steep street outside Edy Retardo’s house
Taking a break during the “climb”

The Retardo’s house is a two-story home with six-plus bedrooms upstairs and an additional rental unit below. The interior is constructed mostly of narra wood which is the country’s national tree. Unfortunately, the stately tree almost became extinct as a result of massive illegal logging! Had the government not intervened, this hardwood would probably be history by now.

Resting at the top of the street

After a somewhat restful sleep and a hearty Filipino breakfast, our group – Edy, Naida and husband Adal Singson, Bess and Patchie Antonio, Joan Borja, Trini and me – decided to visit the Lourdes Grotto which was a short (but laborious) trek from Edy’s house. Those with knee problems had to forego the more than 200 steps going up and down. But we did survive this short visit! I even rented an Igorot costume for a photo ops and tried my best to perform a native dance making a fool of myself!

The favela-like hillside. Favelas are slums or shanties in South America

After the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto visit, we all jumped in a mini-bus to take us to the city market. The fare with senior discounts only cost us 100 pesos (less than $2). The market is typical like most of those in other parts of the Philippines – crowded, various odors of fresh produce and other foods mingling in the air but to my surprise, the vendors are not as “aggressive” in forcing you to buy their wares as I was used to many years ago.

And the bargain hunting and haggling begins…
The seniors are resting
Eating the corn they just bought from a sidewalk vendor

From the marketplace, we decided to walk to the SM Mall about a mile away! It should not been too bad if the road was not a steady incline! Danny and I were ahead of the group and waited until they caught up with us. Trini had been having problems with skin tags and warts and wanted it removed. They found a “skin clinic” that did a wonderful job and Trini is happy. While she was undergoing the laser Joan, Danny and I waited in Starbucks.

After the skin “surgery”, we took two taxis to take us to a hotel nearby that offers all-you-can-eat buffet – pizza, fried chicken, spaghetti, soup and salad – all for about $5 after the senior discount! By this time, we’ve mastered the art of pulling our senior discount cards from our bags!

The following day, I stayed home as I was not feeling well while the rest of the group went out. Trini went to see her alma mater – Baguio General Hospital. They went to buy souvenirs at the Philippine Military Academy (the equivalent of West Point).

They called me around noon and asked if I wanted to go with them to the elite Baguio Country Club. After a couple of hours of additional sleep I felt much better. We agreed that they would pick me up in Starbucks in SM Mall. Another cousin loaned them a Toyota Fortuner (similar to a Toyota Highlander) where all seven of us squeezed in. Imagine how we felt being unloaded in front of the country club while people were staring at the number of passengers coming out of the vehicle! Our good friend in the U.S. Florence Bayquin (a widow of Trini’s cousin) sponsored us to get in the place since it was a membership facility. Florence also footed the bill at the restaurant – THANK YOU, FLOR, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY!

Danny Morales and Adal Singson in the Igorot costume
Adal and Nayda at Stonewall
The ladies shopping at the PMA Souvenir shop
The grounds of Baguio County Club

After buying the famous raisin bread in the club’s bakery, the ladies went inside the boutique to browse and came out with purchased items. This time, the senior discount cards were rejected!

Sorry we don’t accept SENIOR DISCOUNT CARDS!
With Adal Singson

That night, being our last night with the group, we stayed a little bit later to say our farewells. We bought a first class bus ticket (Victory Liner) for 9:15 am so we left at 7:00 am. The ride was very comfortable and only took four hours as it was non-stop. We said our goodbyes and see you laters and off we went!

It was a very memorable three days in Baguio and we felt sad leaving the place and the company we are so fond of.

The following morning Trini and I flew to Cebu….