Family Vacation

Dinner By the Beach and a Pico de Loro Morning

May 15, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 23 Comments

Before you start reading this post, please read my first Pico de Loro entry, just so you’re up to date. 🙂 Indulge me. Thank you.

Okay. After our property tour around the super big Pico de Loro Cove, Celine suggested that we grab some cold drinks at the Sun Coral Cafe, the Beach Club’s Filipino restaurant. Our dinner was to be served by the chef and servers of Sun Coral Cafe at a beautiful table set up right on the sand, so it was a good idea to hang around the area at cocktail hour. Plus, I was never one to say no to mojitos by the beach.

Mojitos and MIlo dinosaurs at cocktail hour

It was here that Tim and Little MrC really started chatting and bonding. After about ten minutes, they were BFFs already. Of course, no one was happier about their new-found friendship than their two mamas! While the boys were bonding, I took the time to chat with Tina and play with my favorite little girl, Baby Anne. I started talking to this little one when she was still in the tummy, and I was so happy that she instantly took to me, played with me, held my hand and let me carry her! I love this baby, I really do.

Dinner on the Beach

After only a few minutes, we were invited to head out onto the beach and get settled in for dinner. The setup was so romantic, just like the al fresco garden dinner we had last September at Taal Vista Hotel. In fact, a few feet away from our long table was a table for two all set up with candles and tiki torches. Yep, they can do this for you at Pico de Loro, so if you are celebrating an anniversary or planning a romantic proposal, keep them in mind!

Because Sun Coral Cafe specializes in Filipino food, we had a Pinoy feast with a twist for dinner. It was a little dark, so you’re gonna have to forgive my blurry photos. We started off with a lightly-dressed salad with apples, arugula and walnuts. I absolutely loved this. We were also served soup, a Batangas-style tinola that had squash in it instead of papaya. The soup was actually orange from the squash. MrC loved this one, and so did the kids. They ate mostly soup and rice for dinner.

Salad and soup, and a really lovely lantern

My favorite part of the entire meal was the rice. It was as if the rice was cooked in nilagang baka broth and topped with bulalo! So bad, but so, so good. There was also pancit habhab topped with egg, lechon kawali, crispy binagoongan, bistek-style fish and gising gising. I hope I didn’t forget anything! Dessert was a warm, gooey chocolate cake cooked on a skillet with vanilla ice cream, vanilla sauce and strawberry sauce that you could smother onto the chocolate. Just thinking about it is making my mouth water.

Fish bistek, pancit habhab with egg, our sinful dessert and the yummy gising-gising

The kids were served their own special dinner set. They had pizza, mac and cheese, mini burgers and huge scoops of ice cream for dessert. We were all so stuffed after this meal that we ordered pots of TWG tea to sip on as we chatted and digested.

Time to Say Goodnight!

Before long, we all started to get sleepy and it was time to head home to Pico Sands Hotel. The boys and I were pleasantly surprised with the good night “notes” and sweet treats we found in the room when we entered. The turn down service at this hotel is superb. Shades now covered the big windows, the bed was ready for us, and the room was super cold. While the little boy cleaned up, MrC and I ate some of the cookies and pastillas. Yes, more eating!

I was more than excited to take a shower after being outdoors all afternoon. The fluffy bath robe and bedroom slippers were calling out to me!

It’s important to note that the water at Pico Sands Hotel is not potable. They actually provide guests with bottled water in the bathrooms to use for tooth brushing. I was really happy about that. I usually make sure that we gargle with bottled water when we’re out of town just so I can be sure that we don’t end up with upset tummies.

We set an early alarm for May 1, so that we could be sure to make the most out of our one full day at Pico de Loro. The view outside our window was so beautiful that I literally had to take a photo from bed. We eventually managed to get ourselves off that cozy bed and out of room 627, so we could go grab breakfast at Pico Restaurant.

View from my pillow, and the boys from across the hall

Breakfast buffet, yay!

The breakfast buffet at Pico Restaurant was simple, hearty and filling. The usual pancake and egg stations were located in the garden, each within their own nipa huts. Super cute.

They served both steamed and garlic fried rice, plus a mountain of bacon, fried fish, beef tapa, and sausages. There was a small bread selection with peanut butter and jam, a cereal station, soup and salad. The juices were nice and refreshing and the fresh fruits at the buffet were really juicy and sweet.

We enjoyed breakfast. Yes we did. The only thing I didn’t like was the barako coffee, but that’s just because I really don’t like barako. I prefer arabica from the mountains, thankyouverymuch.

After breakfast, it was time to hit the pool! Unfortunately I was hormonal during our visit and so I had absolutely no pool action whatsoever. Argh. I really need to plan our return to Pico de Loro soon, just so I get to swim there. I’m still not over it.

Here you see the face of impatience as I slowly walked back to our room, slowly applied sunblock and then had him pose for a photo before swimming. I was stalling so that he could digest his breakfast!

Since I was stuck sunning by the pool, I took the opportunity to catch up on my reading. A few chapters in, and it started to get too hot for my rash-y skin, so I decided to order a watermelon shake to cool off.

Cooling off with a drink while they cooled off in the water

I like that the water depth in the pool of the Pico de Loro Country Cub is clearly marked, so the kiddo knows where he can and cannot go. The pool is also divided into sections, so kids can be confined in the shallower areas while adults and bigger kids are free to do their thing in the deeper areas. It makes for less paranoid parents, really. Plus, there are a lot of lifeguards around the area, and they are easy to spot in their red outfits. Safety first!

The boys took a break from swimming so that Little MrC and Tim could play in the video game room. After sitting by the pool for a couple of hours, I was also really looking forward to staying in a cold place for a bit and so I said yes to the digital distraction. I thought that after the game the kids would agree to just go to our rooms, shower and then have lunch, but I was so wrong. Tim and this little boy asked for more pool time, and of course us mommies had to say yes. Tina, Anne and I hung around and bonded instead while the two big boys swam with little Rysse.

We were all so tired after that second swim. We said our goodbyes to the Rodriguez family before we went to our rooms, because Tina and I were worried that the two little boys might ask to do more activities. Unfortunately, it was almost time to get ready to leave. We decided to order room service for lunch instead of going down to the restaurant because we were lazy (lol), and also so that we could have a little more time to pack and clean up.

Our trip to Pico de Loro was just what this little family needed this summer. We were really looking forward to a nice vacation, and I am so grateful that we were granted one. I overheard my mom telling my cousin, actually, that I have a good thing going on with this blog (her exact words were “Ang gand ng raket nya“). I may not earn much from it as far as money goes, but the things we get to see and do together as a family, all thanks to blogging, are simply irreplaceable.

This, my favorite smile, is the ultimate reward

Thank you so very much to the wonderful staff of Pico Sands Hotel, Pico de Loro Beach and Country Club, and to Celine and the team. It’s always a pleasure spending time with you guys. We are so excited to comeback to Pico and to Taal Vista real soon.

Pico de Loro Cove is located in Nasugbu, Batangas. For inquiries, please call Pico Sands Hotel at + 632 46478888. Visit their website at http://www.picodelorocove.com and stay connected at facebook.com/picosandshotel and instagram.com/picodeloroclub.

Perfect Pico de Loro

May 13, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 19 Comments

May has always been a month to look forward to in our family. MrC celebrates his birthday in May, and I also get my celebration on Mother’s Day. It’s the middle of summer, so the little boy is often in high spirits, and, best of all, the month begins with a holiday. What’s not to love about May?

Well, this year our wonderful friends from Pico de Loro (who happen to be our same wonderful friends from Taal Vista Hotel) gave us one more reason to love May. I had been wishing, hoping and dreaming about a summer getaway ever since school closed at the end of March. Finally, sometime mid-April, I received an invite from Celine Arenillo, Area Marketing Communications Manager for Pico de Loro and Taal Vista, for an overnight stay at Pico Sands Hotel. Happy, happy, joy, joy! Even better, we were scheduled to visit the place at the same time as my bloggy mommy friend, fellow WMB contributor, seatmate, group mate and dance partner, Tina Rodriguez and her family.

The Cuyugan and Rodriguez families with our super gracious host, Celine.

We left Alabang at a little past 2pm on April 30, a Wednesday. MrC had to report to work in the morning, and that’s why we weren’t able to head out until after lunch. It was a quick and easy drive along familiar roads. While most people take Cavitex on the way to Pico de Loro, that route is actually out of the way for us. Luckily, Pico is only a cove away from Patungan, home of Lolo’s Fishville, and we know how to get there via Imus, Trece Martires, General Trias, Ternate and Maragondon. Yup, it’s a tour of Cavite!

Pico Sands Hotel

We arrived at Pico Sands Hotel at just after 4pm. Celine greeted us at the reception area and explained our 2-day itinerary as we checked in. Of course, my curious little boy asked question after question about the food, the amenities and the activities available to us.

Check in was super quick and easy. We were given our key cards, a map of the grounds, a checklist of activities that we can do while at Pico, breakfast and beach towel coupons, and waterproof wrist tags that we had to wear in order to access all of the amenities. See, some areas are exclusive for members, and so non-member guests are given a different color tag from members and sponsored guests.

Everything we need to find our way around the hotel and country club

We were booked in a Corner Deluxe Room, which was really big and super cozy. Little MrC is at that age where he can still squeeze into a big bed with his dad and I, and we were happy that the bed was roomy, the pillows soft and the blanket fluffy. I knew right away that I would sleep like a baby at Pico Sands, just like I did at Taal Vista Hotel.

I love how light from the big windows flow into the room

Because we were in a corner room, we had a huge balcony. It was actually wrapped around two sides of the room. We also had lots of windows so the room was always bathed in light. The windows and balcony also gave us access to the gorgeous view of the man-made lagoon and the country club grounds.

I find that balconies are the best places to read or write, especially when the weather is pleasant. Because this summer is scorching, though, I hardly spent time outside. I opted to use the large writing desk inside the airconditioned room instead. I also didn’t bring my laptop on this trip because I just wanted to go on vacation so badly and so I decided to leave work at home. I think that was a super good move.

The perfect blogging spot + more photos inside the room

After we got settled and unpacked, I had to leave the boys for a bit to go on a property tour with Celine and the other bloggers in our group. They said they would go and explore on their own too, then sent me off. Back at the ground floor of the hotel, I saw Pico Restaurant where we would be having breakfast the next morning, and Pico Bar where I would have loved to grab a cocktail if we were staying longer.

Pico de Loro Country Club

Our first stop on the tour was Pico de Loro Country Club, which is only a short walking distance from the hotel. Guests staying at Pico Sands have access to the pool at the club, as well as the locker rooms, which are big, clean and nice smelling. Yay for that!

The Country Club also has bowling lanes and billiard tables, and it super reminded me of the resorts and country clubs I visited during my childhood. For the little kiddos, there’s Club Pico, a play place with tunnels, a ball pit and other fun activities. My kid is too big for this already, but Tina’s girls had the best time playing inside Club Pico.

For older kids who aren’t big enough for billiards or bowling yet, there’s always the Game Lounge, or, as Little MrC calls it, the video game room. At the beginning of our mini-vacation I declared that there would be no video games on the trip. But then on day two, something about the mid-day heat made me say yes to an hour of Plants vs Zombies on the PS3. I guess I was just really happy that my little boy and Tina’s son, Tim, really hit it off. They were so in-sync, it was as if they had already known each other for years.

I really would have wanted to try the videoke rooms, but later on decided that I would just save that experience for another visit. The Country Club has a restaurant called Lagoa, a Cafe Lounge and a Lanai Bar. There is also a large ballroom for corporate or social functions. In the same complex, there’s a really nice sports area with tennis and badminton courts, a basketball court, ping-pong tables, and even a squash/pelota area. This is really perfect for company team building or sportsfest activities. HR friends, take note!

There is also a convenience store at the lobby of the country club where members and hotel guests can buy things like food, sunglasses, and various other things. If you are looking to buy flip flops, beach bags, swimwear or cover-ups, though, you can actually visit the Kultura boutiques, which are located at the lobby of Pico Sands Hotel and the lobby of the Beach Club. I only got to take a quick peek at the convenience store before the shuttle arrived at the Country Club driveway, and it was time for us to go and check out the chapel.

Wouldn’t you want to get married here???

I love this chapel! It gives you a beautiful ocean sunset backdrop, just like what we had during my sister-in-law’s Bohol wedding, only with the added perk of airconditioning! It’s the best of both worlds, if you ask me. Celine said that this chapel has been used for a celebrity wedding, and also for the wedding of one of Henry Sy’s grandsons.

See that beautiful view? (Photo belongs to Tina!)

Meanwhile, in MrC land…

We caught up with the boys on our way to the Beach Club from the church. They were trying to catch a shuttle and ours just happened to drive by. I was so curious to know what they did while I was on the property tour. The photos I found in the camera were just so cute that I thought I’d share them here, too!

They checked out the country club, the beach and the grounds around the lagoon during the afternoon. That’s a lot of walking! No wonder they both looked tired when we picked them up.

Imagine, we did all of that in only a couple of hours, and day 1 of our vacation wasn’t over yet. After the property tour, we had cocktails and then dinner on the beach. And then day 2 was filled with lots of family fun and bonding with the Rodriguez’s! So much to write about and so many photos to share, but I will save the rest of the story for another post.

Have you been to Pico de Loro? If you haven’t yet, you really should add it to your list of vacation prospects. Honestly, I can’t wait to go back!

PICO SANDS HOTEL
Pico de Loro Cove, Hamilo Coast,
Barangay Papaya, Nasugbu, Batangas
+632 2147800 / +632 2147888 / +639178091289
reservations@picosandshotel.com
http://www.picodelorocove.com/
http://www.hamilocoast.com/
#/picosandshotel

For membership inquiries, call +632 9458000

Fun Family Activities You Can Do at Las Casas

February 10, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 29 Comments

I mentioned in my previous Las Casas vacation post that there are a lot of things that you can do when you visit Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Whether you want to do something on your own, as a couple or as a big group, this place does not disappoint. Here are 12 ideas for you, in case you decide go on a trip to this beautiful Bataan resort.

Go for a swim

Swimming time! The photo on the top right belongs to dad.

Based on experience, it can get really hot in Bataan. The best way to cool off at Las Casas is to take a quick dip in their lagoon-style swimming pool. What I like about this pool is that it’s only 4ft at the deepest portion, so I can let my son swim away without worrying about him floating to areas where he can no longer reach the floor. I’m also not very tall, so I don’t mind the shallowness of the water. My brother, though, who is close to 6ft tall was squatting most of the time. Still, we enjoyed our swim, specially since we had our underwater camera with us. [Read more…] about Fun Family Activities You Can Do at Las Casas

Travelogue: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

February 5, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 21 Comments

I don’t remember if it was in late December or early January that I asked my dad if he would be interested in a CNY long weekend family vacation. Now that MrC is working again, I want to really be able to make the most out of long weekends, hence the proposal. It actually works for everyone else, too, because we’re all older and working now. It’s usually my dad who has to adjust his schedule, since his rotation at the hospital varies. Luckily, he agreed, and was able to switch his shifts around. And so, last Friday, we were off on a trip up north to Bataan!

Like I said before, the boys and I visited Las Casas last year for my sis-in-law’s prenup photo shoot, but I never got to blog about our stay. I’m making up for that now.

The long road to Bataan [Read more…] about Travelogue: Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Back in Las Casas, and This Time I’m Blogging About It!

February 2, 2014 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 12 Comments

I first visited Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar last summer, when my sister-in-law invited us to join them for a quick stay on the weekend of their prenup photo shoot. Me being me, I never got around to blogging about our actual stay. I’ve been trying to figure out how and when I can write about that trip, since it was too long ago to actually be relevant. Luckily, my dad treated our whole family to an amazing 3-day stay at Las Casas for the Chinese New Year weekend (THANK YOU, DADDY!!!), and yes I plan on blogging about it this time! Yay! The best part about it is I get to use photos from both trips. Double yay!

Here’s a sneak peek, while I get my new batch of photos together. 🙂

What did you guys do over Chinese New Year weekend? 🙂

Amorita On My Mind: A Gorgeous Sunset Wedding and the Morning After

December 28, 2013 by MrsC | Patricia Cuyugan 1 Comment

After her catholic wedding at Villa Escudero, my sister in law got married again in a beautiful christian ceremony at Amorita Resort in Bohol. The garden of Amorita has got to be the perfect spot for a sunset wedding, with its amazing view of the sand and sea. You literally have the sun sinking majestically into the water as your backdrop while you say “I do.”

You also get to spend your first night together as husband and wife in this really nice villa, which overlooks the ocean as well. Bonus: It has it’s own private plunge pool! I don’t have photos of inside, but my friends Joei and Patty both stayed at villas during their visits to Amorita, and have really nice photos in their blog posts.

The reason why I don’t have pictures inside my sister-in-law’s room is because the place was a mess from the wedding preparations. One of the downsides to having a garden wedding in the Philippines is the heat + humidity combo, and so we all decided to camp out in the airconditioned villa while waiting for the ceremony to start.

Minutes before the ceremony – Me with the boys, and the Cuyugan siblings

The food was superb, as expected. There were grilling stations where skewered meats and super fresh seafood were cooked on the spot. There was a salad bar, an assortment of breads, a fish taco station, desserts, and one of the yummiest cakes I have ever tried. No pictures, still, unfortunately. I promise to share a link to the official photos though, once they’re available.

Because I was so impressed by the food prepared in the kitchens of Amorita, I was looking forward to meeting Saffron’s executive chef, Raphael Ongchiong. Like I said in my previous Bohol post, I got to do just that. Luckily, he came out at the end of the reception to check that everything went well, and that provided us with the opportunity to chat for a bit. A bunch of us had our photos taken with him, me for the blog, and the others because they thought he was cute. Lol. Then someone from our group started calling him Sir Chef, and the name just stuck.

The staff of Amorita was able to grant all but one of the wedding party’s requests that day. In fairness to them, they had to decline that one request because it violated one of the hotel’s policies, that proper swimwear is required for swimming. If you’re thinking that we were planning to jump into the pool in our dresses and makeup, well, you’re right. Kinda like this:

Yes, those are the Kardashians/Jenners [photo source]

They gave us a free round of sangria’s to compensate for declining our request, and that kind of made things better. Since we couldn’t cool off in the pool after the reception, we decided to head back to our rooms, shower and sleep instead. The following morning, we woke up bright and early to make the most out of our last half day at Amorita. Breakfast buffets are my favorite, as you will notice when you browse through my other vacation and staycation posts. Saffron’s breakfast spread did not disappoint at all. The mere sight of danggit was enough to make my morning.

Breakfast is definitely my favorite meal of the day!

Three of my favorite things about breakfast time at Amorita were: The flowers they placed in every female guest’s hair, the cheese plate with honey, grapes and walnuts, and the hot chocolate, which was so rich and creamy and unbelievably good.

We hung out in the pool area for another hour and a half or so, and then it was time to get cleaned up and pack our bags. I had the best time with the Cuyugan and de Jesus families in Amorita, and I am totally looking forward to finally coming back with my boys. I really want us to stay at a villa, too, next time, coz it’s just so pretty!

Til we meet again, Bohol. And thank you, Amorita, for showing us a spectacular time. 🙂

Check out Amorita Resort’s website, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter to learn more about this spectacular Bohol getaway.