summer is and will always be my favorite season

I am definitely a summer child. I've always preferred extremely hot days over cold, rainy ones. I guess it's because I love spending time outside. Don't worry, I always put on sunblock + tanning oil. I think I should start driving around and take more farm pictures.

Anyway, being here in Isabela is such a blessing because I'm a few hours away from the country's best hidden beaches! Isabela's coastal municipalities, which face the Pacific Ocean, are a traveler's paradise as you'll be lounging around in unexplored white sand beaches away from the usual crowd in most well-known summer destinations in the country.

One particular beach I'm really looking forward to going to is Dicotcotan Beach in Palanan, Isabela.

Image source: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?p=74335011

This weekend (so excited!!!!), I'll be going on a road trip up to Fuga Island. This particular isle is part of the Babuyan Group of Islands. I'll be taking a boat from Claveria (which is about 6 hours from where I live now by public transport). I don't really want to divulge a lot about this road trip as I'm still planning out the details.

Where are you planning to wander off to this summer?

Dumaguete Trip 2011: Apo Island

Working backwards as I mentioned in my previous post, on our third day in Dumaguete we went to Apo Island and spent more than half of the day there.

What is Apo Island? Apo Island is a small island off Dumaguete City. It's known for its pristine waters, snorkeling and dive spots, and the diverse marine life you can see without having to go far from the shore.

To get to Apo Island, you take a motorized bangka. There are bangkas that can seat a group of 4 or a group of 8. The rate per person's pretty affordable. We were able to rent our boat for Php 1,700 (that's Php 425/person). The bangka's driver will bring you to Apo Island and you just have to tell him what time to pick you up. Not bad, eh?

Anyway, this post will basically be full of pictures sharing with y'all the beauty of Apo Island. Actually, I think I need to go back because we weren't able to fully explore the place. We only stayed in the marine sanctuary area so we could go snorkeling and play with the fishies :)

3 days to go!!

Dumaguete check list:

1. Bikinis - check!

2. Tanning lotion - check!

3. Sun dresses - check!

4. Sunnies - check!

5. On vacation mode - double (even triple) check!

These aren't the only items on my checklist :p I have yet to buy the goody bags I'll be giving to the kids and teens at the shelter where I'll be holding a party in. Yes, I decided to spend my special day with very special people. I asked my aunt who's based in Dumaguete to help me look for a community where I could spread a bit of cheer. She suggested I host a party at a shelter that was home to abused kids and teens. I have about 2 1/2 days to prepare everything. My aunt, who is also a theater professor in the prestigious Silliman University, and her class will be hosting a small workshop at the shelter so I'm sure that day will be awesome. I am so excited already! My birthday's about a week away but I feel like I'll be celebrating beginning Friday.

For my birthday this year, I'm also sponsoring the school supplies of five kids in Marinduque through the Big Brother Big Sister Foundation. I started sponsoring just last year and I plan on doing this for a long time. I love that this organization aims to provide school supplies to kids that will last for a year. I'm thinking of doing the same thing for next year, but more focused in Bukidnon. My grandmother suggested this, actually.

I love birthdays. I don't really have a problem getting older. I know it sounds cliche, but age really is just a number. I won't say I may be (turning) 24, but I'll always be 18. Nope. I'm owning the age! Being (almost) 24 means being a year wiser, happier, and hotter hahahaha! Kidding aside, I think we should all be proud of how old (or young) we are. Like the rings inside a tree's trunk, each year we experience adds and enriches who we are now.

it's the most wonderful time of the year (not Christmas, though :p)

obviously bored

...and can't wait for Sumer 2011!!

can't wait for summer by kookiekulasa featuring moccasins shoes

one last hurrah for summer

Summer wouldn't be complete without a trip to the beach...

I love the Sun, the sand, the clear blue water...

I will definitely miss summer.

loving Pinoy labels

My friend and I did a bit of shopping and a lot of window shopping this afternoon at the Shangrila mall. I was planning on buying only one dress--for my friend's wedding on the 18th. Alas, I couldn't resist so I bought another dress at F & H and I love love loooooove it! It's a simple black summer-y dress perfect for the disgustingly hot weather here in Manila. Quite weird that I chose a black dress, but the fabric's just so cool and light I figured it'd suit me well. Anyway, the dress I bought for the wedding's just fabolous in my book. It's simple, elegant, and the fabric has a unique flow and feel to it.

While we were looking around and checking out different stores, Mishi commented that she's starting to be impressed with local labels. Actually, I've been buying a lot of local stuff the past few months and I'd have to agree with her. Local lines are coming out with really good clothes. Though some are still relatively more expensive than others, prices are still reasonable...assuming the economic situation doesn't get any worse than we're expecting. From Crossings , to Bench, to Plains and Prints, to Bayo, and to Kamiseta--we transferred from shop to shop checking out dresses and fabulous blouses. To add to the torture, we also checked out Celine, CMG, Schu, and Steve Madden to drool over shoes we wish we could afford to buy. Unfortunately, pay day's a week from now so our wallets are quite thin.

Waiting for the 15th...I'm dying to do a bit--no--a LOT of shopping.

Anyway, I have a question for you guys: Have you ever been drawn to a type of clothing that whenever you go to a store, any store for that matter, you seem to gravitate towards just one type? For example, I've noticed that in all the stores I've been to I always check out the long dresses. I usually check out dresses first but I've been looking at long dresses for a few months already. So what are you drawn to?

I got this from daydream lily ...the "four things" tag (though I wasn't tagged..hahaha!)

four places i go, over and over - The Face Shop, Fullybooked, Bayo, and Charles & Keith

four tv shows watch - CSI (Las Vegas), Numbers, Cold Case, and House

four favourite smells - Bench Citrus, anything from Victoria's Secret's perfume line, the smell of baby powder, and the sweet scent of Johnson's baby cologne! :)

four places i'd rather be right now - at the beach with my friends, at Tagaytay snuggled up in Taal Vista Hotel's nice comfy bed, on a plane to Europe, at Casa San Pablo on a hammock staring up at the stars :)