Reliving the Spirit of Christmas

I always heard many people preaching, “Christmas is not about presents.” But then, every Christmas, I see people were inundated with presents and the whole thing was a circus, it became rambling commercialism for so many people, many will celebrate Christmas to experience gifts and excitement, but never connect the celebration with the reason for it.

I always heard, “Did you get everything you wanted?”

Everything I wanted? 

I don’t know but this is what we don’t want to teach our children about life? That you can get everything you want? I remember being a kid. I never got everything I wanted because my parents couldn't afford many things as we were financially broke.

Yes, Christmas belongs to all of us but let’s not forget that Christmas belongs to the poor, to the outcast and the hungry, the handicapped and oppressed. Maybe if we’re lucky, they’ll let us in on the true spirit of the season. The true meaning of Christmas is celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. He is a symbol of love, a symbol of hope, a symbol of peace and light that makes this such a jubilant season for true believers. 

Embracing the true meaning of Christmas is very important reaching down within yourself to find its true spirit, I mean you must be willing to give, give of yourself, your time and your love, and give of your worldly possessions.

Do not think of the gifts you give to others as an obligation or duty, but think of it as a symbol of your love for them. While no gift can accurately reflect the love we feel for those who are near and dear to us, even to strangers, we can show them that they matter by spending time and thought to create or select a gift with meaning. 

 

A good example of gift with meaning is, my friends have taken up, formed a group called "Helping Hands" and every once in a while, they create an assortment of gifts like clothing, groceries, food, supplies and many more that they give to the needy children in the community. 

Helping Hands volunteers with the kids

Doing these acts really did wonders for making you appreciate what you possess this holiday season. Merry Christmas everyone!

You, how do you get in touch with the true spirit of Christmas?

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HOW TO GET TO TREASURE MOUNTAIN?

The first thing to do to make your travel easy is to search Treasure Mountain on google maps for accurate directions going there.

It’s an hour or two away from Manila to witness the Sea of Clouds. But remember that the sea of clouds is not visible every day. There are days without them just like when we visited this place, we were not so lucky to see this beautiful scenery.

Here a helpful guide on traveling to Treasure Mountain in Tanay.

VIA PRIVATE AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

VIA PRIVATE TRANSPORT.

There are two possible routes to take.

1.  VIA MARCOS HIGHWAY, you’ll pass over Masinag, Cogeo, Boso-boso Resort, Foremost Farms, Palo Alto, and Garden Cottages. The way to Treasure Mountain will be on the left side of the road, you’ll see a waiting shed. It’s the same jump-off as the Maysawa Circuit (Mt. Sapari and Mt. Binutasan) From the waiting shed, you’re just 1.5 kilometers away from Treasure Mountain, go straight and you will turn right as you see our signage.

2.    VIA SAMPALOC IN TANAY. You’ll take Sampaloc road and will pass by the street to Daranak Falls. Go straight until you arrive at a junction and then, turn left. Following the scenic road, it will be a 45-minute to 1-hour drive. You’ll pass by Sierra Madre Resort on your right, Ten Cents to Heaven on your left, then Pico de Pino on your right. As you pass over Pico de Pino, you’re already near so drive a little further. Treasure Mountain will be on your right side. Turn right as you see a waiting shed or the jump-off of Maysawa Circuit (Mt. Sapari and Mt. Binutasan) Similarly, go straight and you’ll turn right as you see our signage.

NOTE: Going to Treasure Mountain, there are parts of the road where you’ll pass through mud and rocks especially during rainy seasons. If your car can’t make it until the parking area, you can just park your car in the vicinity and just have a 15-minute walk to Treasure Mountain. Don’t worry they are on the process of constructing the road to make it easy for the travelers to get there.

For commuters

VIA PUBLIC TRANSPORT.

1.    VIA COGEO.

·       Ride a van or jeepney going to Cogeo Gate 2 or Padilla.

·   Get off at Gate 2 and ride a jeepney bound to Sampaloc, Tanay. Jeepneys going to Sampaloc, Tanay will also travel via Marcos Highway, the same route as with the private transport. Therefore, be mindful of the landmarks that you’ll pass by.

·     Get-off at Sitio Maysawa, waiting shed or the jump-off to the Maysawa Circuit. From there, you may go on a 45-min walk to Treasure Mountain or wait for a tricycle or habal-habal to accompany you here.

NOTE: The last trip of jeepneys bound to Sampaloc, Tanay is at around 5 or 6 pm.

FARES:

·         Tricycle or Habal-habal fare is P50 per person

·         Cubao to Cogeo Gate 2 fare is P24

·         Cogeo Gate 2 to Sitio Maysawa fare is P45

2.    VIA TANAY.

·       Take a jeepney going to Tanay town proper.

·   From Tanay Public Market, ride a jeepney that go directly to Cuyambay. If there’s no available jeepneys that travels directly to Cuyambay, take a jeepney to Sampaloc and get off at the junction.

·  From there, ride another jeepney bound to Cogeo. You’ll get off at Sitio Maysawa or Maysawa Circuit. Alternately, you may hire a tricycle at Sampaloc to accompany you directly to Treasure Mountain. Hiring a tricycle will cost you P500 for 4 persons.

Day Tour

·         Entrance Fee: Php150/pax (5am-3pm)

·         Cottage Rental: Php300/cottage

Walk-ins are allowed for Day Tour.

 

Overnight

·         Entrance Fee: Php200/pax

·         Tent Pitching Fee: Php300/tent

·         Tent Rental: Php500/tent (good for 2pax); Php800/tent (good for 4pax)

·         Sleeping Mat: Php200/mat

·         Overnight Lodging: Php500/pax (minimum of 2pax and maximum of 5pax)

·         Kubo Rental: Php3,500/kubo (maximum of 6pax)

·         Reservations are required for Overnight stays.

Rope Course Rates

Day Tour

·         Spider’s Web- Php150 per head

·         Whole Course- Php350 per head

Overnight

·         Spider’s Web- Php150 per head

·         Whole Course- Php250 per head

Meals

·         Breakfast: Php150-Php200/meal

·         Lunch/Dinner: Php250/meal

Corkage Fee: Php50/bottle of alcoholic beverage

 

Parking Fees

·         Motorcycle: Php20 (Day Tour); Php30 (Overnight)

·         Private Vehicle: Php30 (Day Tour); Php50 (Overnight)

Side Trip:

El Patio Razon

Calinawan Cave

Daranak Falls

Regina Rica

Pililla Windmills

We hope that this will help you with your travel to Treasure Mountain. Have a safe journey and enjoy! 

I TRAVEL WITH FLORAL 888
For your travel needs, you can contact and make inquiries at Floral 888 Travel and Business Center and Van Rental on their:
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Floral888travel/
Email : floral888travel@yahoo.com
Phone : 09553027873 / 09477581116 / 09239833081

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My Seven (7) Goals in 2020

Less than 2 weeks to go before the new year, millions of people across the world will be setting goals for 2020 and being a better person is my top New Year’s resolution, 

These are my 7 Goals this coming 2020: 

• Goal#1: Prioritize my health because my health is my only wealth (lol). I’ll take care of myself by becoming more active and taking a 'me' day every once in a while. 

• Goal #2: Spending more quality time with my family and loved ones.

• Goal #3: Pay my bills on time and take the step forward towards financial freedom.

• Goal #4: Get out of my comfort zone. With a little adjustment, I’ll try to break away from my ordinary routine and do great things.

• Goal #5: Keep in touch with people who matter to me most.
• Goal #6: Up my water intake and stay away with canned goods (lol).
• Goal #7: Add savings for the future.

It is very important that we need to be accountable for whatever goals we have that’s why I put these goals into writing so I can come back here to be easily remembered, review and update my goals. 

How about you, what’s your goals in 2020? 

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Where To Go in Baguio City

Baguio is regarded as the "Summer Capital of the Philippines", with its cold weather all throughout the year. The city is also home to tropical pine forests, lending the city the nickname "City of Pines". I was lucky to visit Baguio City this year before Christmas 2019. One of my favorite destinations here is Burnham Park a historic urban park located in downtown Baguio, Philippines.

Another list on my bucket when visiting the this City of Pines is the Mines View Park, an overlook park on the northeastern outskirts of Baguio. It is five kilometers away from the Heart of Baguio, passing through the Botanical Garden, the Strawberry Farm in La Trinidad Benguet is also a good place to go where you can see the cultivation of strawberry and you can buy fresh vegetables such as Broccoli, cauliflower. There are also many souvenirs and other products of Baguio that you can take home for “pasalubong” like Ube Jam, Strawberry Jam, the Mansion House, Wright Park, and many more.

We visited also the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Catholic shrine with 252 steps stairs and a place of prayer and meditation located on Mirador Hill in the western part of Baguio. Inside the grotto is a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes. Lourdes Grotto is basically many visitors and crowded on weekends and during Holy Week when pilgrims and devotees come to seek the blessing of the Virgin Mary.

You can also visit the Baguio’s Haunted Diplomat Hotel, it was the Dominican Hill Retreat House, an abandoned structure atop Dominican Hill, Baguio, Philippines. It is now undergoing rehabilitation through the efforts of the city government.

And of course, the Baguio Country Club Christmas Village is much awaited every Christmas season in the celebration of the holidays where you can enjoy artificial snow rains down as you enjoy carolers’ song.

We visited also the Colorful Stobosa Hillside Houses, a community artwork designed by the Tam-Awan Village group, and is a locally recognized tourist attraction in the town of La Trinidad, Benguet. The paintwork of multiple houses composes a single artwork.

There are so many things you can do and experience in Baguio like the Panagbenga Festival which will be held annually every February, the Ifugao Woodcarvers’ Village, shopping at Ukay-Ukay and the Markets, grabbing a drink or two or more at the Baguio Craft Brewery, visiting the Bencab Museum, dropping by at Camp John Hay and the Baguio mansion and many more.

There are also plenty of restaurants in Baguio like the Good Taste Restaurant, and there are also cheap accommodations for a comfortable stay. Baguio also serves as a tourist hub in the Cordilleras, serving as a jumping point to other tourist spots like Mount Pulag, Sagada and Banaue. Watch my Baguio Christmas Village vlog:

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