My cousin, Charlie and I want to greet all of you a Happy and Prosperous 2009!!!

We're preparing for a big basketball game 1st week of January, before Charlie heads back to Singapore. Wish us luck that we bring home the trophy!

Thank you, Mom and Dad for all my wonderful travels this 2008. I am looking forward to next year's even bigger and more exciting adventures!

My last trip to Cebu with Mom was such a stressful one. I heard her and Tito Manuel talking about difficulties in their collection. It was a good thing Lolo was able to help them fund for the Cebu event! I even saw Mom crying in relief! Lolo is Mom's hero indeed!

This is me making sure I get a seat by the window. I didn't want to add more stress to Mommy so I personally made sure I talk to the ground steward. By the way, speaking of airports... Tita Jen and Charlie will be home tomorrow! I can't wait to see my cousin. We might go to Tagaytay for a much needed R&R. I'll let you know if our plans push thru.

If you want to give me a Christmas gift, another backpack would be great! Color? Red! With my travels and all, gotta get a bigger bag!

Here are my two favorite pictures from my recent trip to Cebu. Mom loves eating at this restaurant called GOLDEN COWRIE. That's where the first picture was taken. I had an EXTREMELY CLOSE encounter with a snail. Hehe. Good thing they don't serve these little creatures there!

Check out my basketball jersey. My cousin Charlie has the same outfit. This was taken in Ayala Center Cebu. The open Activity Area there is very nice. Feels like I'm in some foreign country!

I will be back in Cebu on Monday. Haaayyy... Mom has an event at Waterfront. That is her last out-of-town event for the year. Mom needs a break. I wish our family could go out of the country next year! My siblings and I can't wait!

Celebrity Buddy # 2

Who has bigger biceps? Jon Avila or Paquito? You tell me!

Ako at si Pareng Mark

My first celebrity moment! Mark Bautista is such a cool dude. This was taken at a resto in Davao City (Coffeemate leg, last night!). At first, I was so jahe to have my picture taken. But Mark was super game so game na rin ako!

This is my younger brother Miguel. We call him Miggy.

We were at Hotel Stotsenberg in Clark over the weekend and we stayed up all night talking about my travels. Miggy was born in Singapore so he doesn't really speak fluent Tagalog. I will be introducing you to my other brothers and sisters soon. Wait till you meet our youngest, Oasis! She is twenty times bigger than little Miggy!

MY FIRST INTERNATIONAL POST

Mom and Tita Jen brought me with them to Thailand some two years ago. The first photo was taken at the Elephant Show. It was such a great experience seeing the elephants play soccer, dance and engage in a very flamboyant show! They were like actors in a play and were not even intimidated with the the thousands of people watching them. Some were not at their best behavior, which was so scary for me!

The second photo is my 'porma' photo. I have my shades, sunblock, wallet, chips and a soda. I'm ready for an intense day of shopping around Bangkok! Mom and Tita Jen brought me to Chatuchak, the famous night market of Bangkok. They were ready to rumble and it was an experience I will cherish forever!

Mom and I love POP ART!

FMA Suites

Mom and I stayed at FMA Suites in Davao. This is our second time to stay here. You know what. this is a great find if you want a cheap place to stay in. It's clean, the lobby has wi-fi and the bathroom has a good enough space. Mom seems to think so!

The garlic chicken in the resto is good but the serving is way too small. Di kami nabusog ni Mom. Haaayyy...

Bulaga!

Yup, I know... I'm adorable.

Suha time!

Mom and I went to Davao last Wednesday. We went home the very same day. Mom's schedule is killing me! Kita niyo ako dito, namumutla ako. Parang si Ely Buendia nung Eraserheads concert. It's so early pa kasi and Mom and I didn't get breakfast.

It's a good thing it was a smooth flight. Mom was able to finish all of her go-sees. I just stayed in the hotel the whole day. Was too tired to go around with Mom.

We'll be back on the 6th. We'll go suha shopping for lola again!

Bye, Liliw! Until Next Time!

To end our super fun day at Liliw, we passed by Elvie's buko pie stall. That's Lolo and Tita Mimi over there.

I can't wait to see Dad to give him his two pairs of slippers!!! Until next time, kids! Watch out for my next stop!

This, on the other hand, is Lola's best find. Very nice! She bought this from Step Rite's main branch in Pangasinan, Laguna. This was our next stop after Liliw. Mom was able to buy her Gladiator sandals and a pair of shoes here too.

What a day for Mom's feet!

St. John The Baptist Parish

This church in Liliw is beautiful! It's near the footwear strip and its facade is really something else! Here's Lolo and Lola, Tito Mark and Mom. We were surrounded by various monuments of saints. Time for me to pray!

In Loving Memory

Mom said Great Grandma had this exact same chair and I really sensed in Mom's voice that she misses Great Grandma so much.

I wish I got to meet her because Mom says she's a really cool granny.

Look at me! Ain't I a cutie?

This is Mom's best find! A pair of green Nine West looking shoes that fit her perfectly.

When Dad finds out how many pairs Mom bought, he's going to give her another one of his dirty looks.

Good luck, Mom! At least your shoes look gorgeous on you!

Ahhh... what a refreshing drink! And did you know that the Chowking here in Liliw is non-aircon? Yup! It's just this small area at the second floor of one of the buildings along the footwear strip.

But thank God the restrooms are clean. They better be after charging me five pesos! Hahaha!

Mom and I ate chicken mami. Yum!

Here I am!!! Whew, I'm so tired from carrying all these shoes! I need a break!

Where's Packy?

We had breakfast at Pancake House in Shell, South Super Hi-way. Check me out with Lolo and Lolo. We're waiting for our orders...

Check out those ginormous green slippers!

I wanted these black slippers but they didn't have my size. I'm a size zero.

Slippers for mom! I wanted to buy her one but I forgot my wallet...

Nakakagiliw sa Liliw!

Mom, Lolo, Lola, Tito Mark, Tita Mimi and I trooped to Liliw, Laguna today for some good ol' shoes, slippers and sandals shopping. Mom had this twinkle in her eye. She was in heaven! Mom brought home 8 pairs all in all. She is trying them on while I play around with the plastics.

See my next entry for the rest of our pictures!!!

Swimming Time with the Family

I suggest that for summer, it's better to rent a private pool. There is this place in Laguna that our family regularly rents out. It's around 6,000 - 7,500 for the whole day. It has two airconditioned bedrooms, a videoke machine, a kitchen, dining area and a really big pool. There's also a kiddie pool for me! This is the next best option to going to Boracay. At least, you can get to spend quality time with the family and you can do pretty much whatever you want (like play water polo!) without worrying about other guests.

I'm excited to go back to this place next summer!

Packy's Travel Tip # 2

For us little boys who are not experts yet when it comes to swimming, it's important that you bring these inflatable bad boys. And don't forget your shades to protect your eyes from the rays of the sun.

I'm a big fan of Halabos na Hipon (especially when cooked with Sprite; it gives it that sweet taste) and veggies. That's why Mom and I enjoyed the food at this "by the seaside" restaurant in CDO. I'm sorry if I haven't moved over to another place. I just had so many fun experiences I want to share with you during my last trip there. More to come! Do stay tuned!

B's Pizza of Cagayan de Oro

B's Pizza is a great find! Everything on their menu (maybe except for the sisig) are sumptuous and priced affordably. It's a cool gimmick place too! You can stay outside and enjoy the cool night breeze, while munching on Kim's Pizza (their best seller), which as you see here is what we ordered.

Mom ordered the Grilled Tuna. The side dish, which were buttered veggies, were really, really good. We had dinner here twice because we enjoyed all the food! Yaya's salmon was heavenly much like how Conti's prepares theirs. The salpicao was very tender and delicious. But what Mom and I loved the most was the pesto pasta with chicken bits! Best pesto pasta I've ever tasted! Too bad we weren't able to take a photo of it. Kinain namin kasi kaagad eh!

B's Pizza is located at the resto strip where Ramen Tei and Sunburst are also located, just beside LimketKai Mall.

No 7-11 here!

There is no 7-11 or Mini Stop in Cagayan de Oro. Only Cham's Convenience Store. Told Mom we should franchise a 7-11 in this City! She replied by telling me to just buy the things I need. Got cup noodles, hopia, chichirya and my Johnson's Milk Bath. The cigarette pack is Tita Chilie's ha!

Packy's Travel Tip # 1

A shawl is a must bring of a good traveler. It can protect you from both the rain and extreme heat. This is actually Yaya's shawl. Ergo: Yaya is a good traveler!

The Cagayan de Oro airport is so small! The government should look into improving their facilities. It took Mom and I forever to get our luggage! Ho-hum...

Dad works in Cebu Pacific so I get special treatment. I did not have to join their fun games (Name That Tune, to be exact) to win this customized shades. Yaya, on the other hand, participated, and won for herself a pair as well. Gaya-gaya talaga si Yaya ko!

More NAIA Terminal 3 Bits

For first-time travelers, don't worry! I'll run you through the entire airport process...

1) Check in your luggage at the designated counter. Be at the airport at least an hour and a half before your domestic flight!
2) Proceed to the booth where you pay the terminal fee. Prepare P200.00!
3) Head off to your designated gate and wait for the boarding announcement. The red couch is very cozy, lemme just say.
4) When you hear your boarding announcement, fall in line! Check your boarding pass for your seat number. Thank goodness I was assigned to sit beside Tita Chilie! Mom was at the seat right across the aisle from where I was sitting.

Fasten your seatbelt and get ready for take-off!!!

My Cousin Charlie

Charlie and I had an awesome time in Boracay last January. I just wanted to post this picture to show my Tita Jen this cool photo! I miss Charlie, who stays in Singapore. I hope we can see each other again real soon.

From Purgatory to Heaven

Lance Gocongwei, CEO of Cebu Pacific, was quoted as saying, "Moving to NAIA Terminal 3 is like moving from purgatory to heaven".

This morning, Mom and I, together with Tita Chilie, Yaya Tetet and Tito Don, headed off to the posh NAIA Terminal 3 for our flight to Cagayan de Oro. For those living in the South (like me!), it's best if you take South Super Highway, then U-turn in Magallanes, then turn right to Villamor. We were at the airport in a matter of minutes! The domestic gates were the first two ones immediately upon entering the main ramp. New carts were available for our luggage. It was great!

The airport looked like the one in Bangkok when Mom and I went there on a vacation with Tita Jen. I had no problems checking in! This new airport is really a far cry from the old, cramped domestic airport. No wonder Dad was raving about this new place!

Anyway, I'll be talking about my Cagayan de Oro adventures in my next entries. Until then! See you when I bump into you at NAIA 3!

Welcome, Everyone!

Hi. I'm Packy!

Join me as I take you across the Philippines and around the world. I'll be keeping you posted on the yummy food I'll be munching on and the fantastic places I'll be visiting.

This is going to be the best ride of your life!