Stress-free overnight: Punta de Fabian, Baras Rizal - Day 1

After a seemingly long and stressful day at work, what could be a better way to de-stress and to unwind?.......

I've got the most heavier than air baggage that day.

Got my 3 pair of shoes {one is my boots}, slid the 3 colorful shawl, I positioned my 2 travel magazines at the back of my backpack, I kept also a couple of accessories, I also put in order my clothes and of course, I bet my camera has its own way to set itself at my dense bag!

Coz that day, me and my office mates headed to Baras, Rizal....

It's definitely a whole lot fun barkada getaway. Despite the fact that this plan has gone along way before it finally pursue {Okay, blame it to my measles}.

PUNTA DE FABIAN RESORT (PDF) is about 90 minutes drive from Manila. 

PDF offers a variety of relaxation and gives off a more cozy feeling amidst the magnificent mountaintop in the heart of Baras.

For many, PDF has become one of the most anticipated premier resorts in Rizal. 

Apart from leisure, it can also be a haven for out of town conferences, meetings and events. PDF also provides the perfect ambiance both for relaxing guest and for professionals looking for a place to hold a company outing or team building. It can be a honeymooners nest or a sort of a barkada "suite" escape.

 

First time I saw this resort in net,  I told to myself mapupuntahan ko rin to someday

The wanderlust started when someone from my office mates uttered the phrases, "alis naman tayo" and the rest is history. Haha, shortcut! Totoo naman kasi diba dun naman lahat nagsisimula ang paglayas, pag meron nag aya?! 

So  ako, intended to be generous, share this secluded place na alam kong magugustuhan nila. Pictures palang sa net, PAK na! And this was also confirmed by the blogposts na nababasa ko sa mga dis oras na ng gabi! Kaya effort ko sa pagbasa para hindi ako magkakamali ng isusuhestion ko noh. O eh sige, ako na ang punong abala. GO!

So right after magpakabusog sa naganap na pagdiriwang ng ika aput-napung anibersaryo ng aming kumpanya, nag commute na ang mga atey niyo papuntang Rizal. We booked for an overnight stay for 6pax.

Expenses:

Jeep from Pasay to MRT taft: Php8.00

MRT to Shaw: Php14.00 {buti naka stored value na ko kaya hindi masyado bumula ang kili-kili ko sa pagpila sa dami ng tao nung oras na yon sa MRT}!

FX, from Shaw to PDF, Rizal: Php70.00

At exactly 2:45PM, we are at the gate of the resort.  

Ohp! wag kana mag comment, lam ko ako pinaka maliit pero ako naman ang pinaka maganda! char! 

After ng welcome drinks, dumiretso na agad kami sa aming kwarto, ang LOFT ROOM. Very spacious and very advisable to group, between 3- 7persons.

T/B: Clean, complete with towels and toiletries though quite old. The hotchuva na thermostat ay unfortunately not working and it never came to my mind na pwede pala itong ipa fix sa management. Keri boom boom lang ang lameeeeeg that time kahit may bagyo. hehe

The loft room seemed really inviting to sleep the whole day while you're stayin' at the resort. It has cable TV {madalas nilang i-watch eh ung mga pang kids, because of Sophie}. With A/C of course. However, I just noticed the windows are not maintained that much, quite messy. The room has service water and coffee too. 

In general, passable pa rin sa taste ko when it comes to relaxation slash right accommodation. Eh, mag-iinarte pa ba ko heto't naka two piece na ang mga lola niyo at nag po- photo shoot shoot na!

As you can see, I've been trying my best to be a "photographer" here. Kaya nga umefort ko magdala ng maraming eklavu para sa mga models ko. Pero siempre, makikipicture na rin ang lola niyo!

 

Oh, anu ka! Oh, saluhin mo laway mo't tumutulo na sa ganda namin! Partida, tag gutom pa kami nito. Charot!

Jacuzzi, Di ko na tuloy alam ang totoong description ng Jacuzzi. Ito ba ay umiinit o bumubula lang. Pwede rin na umiinit ito dahil sa mga wiwi?! hehehe at pwede ring kaya bumubula eh may umu utot sa tubig.. oh, ewnezzz!

Night view of the pool

 

The place gives you a rustic atmosphere and if you are a laid back seeker, why don't you caps off your day at Punta de Fabian INFINITY POOL.

More photos coming up on the next series of PDF.

The day we thought it wasn't a barkada's outing but Gloria's family outing. Hehe, they're one of the SWETest couples I've worked with. {Sige Angelo ihagis mo na yang GF mo para maging aken kana}. Eksena lang sa teleserye! Ako ang kontrabidang bida.. hihihi

At night, we had a very scrumptious dinner. Ako ata ang may pinaka maraming nakain, nakuha ko pa mag pa refill ng sabaw ng sinigang kay kuyang staff. {parang bottomless ice tea lang}! yUm...YuM.... 

Dinner:
Grilled Liempo: Php225.00
Sinigang na Baboy: Php260.00
Rice: Php8.00

May mga left over pa kami from anniversary ng ofis na shakeys kaya tipid pa rin. Hindi pa rin nga namin naubos sa dami.

After a very satisfying dinner, with lots of chit-chat in between, it is just perfect to try their other amenities like VIDEOKE, billiards and dart.

Indeed, our first day in resort is not just an ordinary one. 
It painted us smile on our face albeit some experienced pour rains.  At kung nagulat kayo bakit unkabogable ang mga itsura namin nang gabing ito, ay nakoh, nag make up ang mga atey niyo at rumampa na kahit baboy lang ang kinain namin. hahaha! Might have save that post later on.

Anyways, I have to comment on the staff of PDF, very attentive. Very helpful din nung umulan and I need some shed for my camera. 
Needless to say, the infinity pool always recharges me for another demanding and stressful day ahead.. I can't wait to wallow and swim once again!

Guys, thanks for this wonderful day kahit short trip lang at malapit lang sa Manila. Kahit na postponed, gumora pa rin tayo.

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Re - visiting Fort Santiago, Intramuros

As promised, here's the additional information of the Fort Santiago.

I've been here twice. 

In my first visit, hindi ako nakaikot ng sobra due to time constraint and bad weather.  Kaya nung bumalik ako, this time I grabbed the opportunity to wander around with friends.

To do while in F.S:
You can take a leisurely walk around Fort Santiago, have a picnic in some areas, have your kids play at the playground, take alot of pictures with you and/or turn at the left side of the Plaza of the Armas, and have tour in Rizal's Shrine where in some things of Jose Rizal were kept or ito ang ginawang museum para paglagakan ng mga memorabilia ng ating pambansan bayani!

First stop, the Silid ng Pagninilay (Contemplation Room).  It is where before seeing the Prison Cell of Jose Rizal.

Painting

Upon entering the room, you would see a large painting of Rizal's execution.

Today the fort is one of the finest tourist attraction in Manila which serves as a museum and houses well-preserved legacies of the Spanish Government, a replica of Jose Rizal’s prison cell set up supposedly before he was executed, (which is called the Plaza de Armas) Rizal Shrine, and the prison dungeons for criminals used by the Spanish Officials. 

One of the writings of Rizal displayed in a long and high glass.

Pagpasok mo sa isa pang room, makikita mo ang Bulwagan ng Panulat ni Rizal (Chamber of Text). Mali..., hindi ito yung mga text messages ni Rizal (meron na ba nuon, hehehe syempre di pa uso celfon nun noh!) Dito makikita mo ang collections or writings ni Rizal.

Mi último adiós (Spanish for "My Last Farewell") is a poem written by Philippine national hero José Rizal on the eve of his execution on December 30, 1896.

Although the poem was untitled, this title served as an artifice useful as a quick reference. This poem was one of the last notes he wrote before his execution. Another that he had written before his death was found in his shoe but because the text could not be read it remains a mystery.

A room of artifacts of Rizal

Some things of Rizal like the first publications and the original copy of his novels, his calling cards and etc are stored in here.

Rizal’s poems are etched on panels beautifully arranged side by side.

VERY MUCH HISTORICAL, indeed! Ang galing, napanatili nilang buhay ang alaala ng ating Pambansang bayani sa pamamagitan ng mga iniwan niyang tula at ang kanyang pagmamahal sa bansa! Tamang- tama, ngayon ay holiday due to National Heroes Day in the Philippines!

Notes

Nakakabilib. Parang may time machine at nakapunta ako sa sinalumang lugar. Nakapasyal ka na, may natutuhan ka pa!

Paglabas namin sa gawing kaliwa ng kuwartong ito, makikita naman ang piitan ni Rizal. (Prison Cell)

Ako yun oh, capturing the model of Rizal's detention cell which shows Rizal on his chair while writing

Katakot kaya jan, medyo madilim kaya saglit lang kami dito ng mga friends ko. Nagulat pa ko nang makita ko ang isang tao sa salamin, eh ako pa la yun! Haay... takutin ba ang sarili!

Different writings of Rizal

Always loved

and Happy!

Tapos, pumunta na kami sa gawing kanan ng detention cell ni Rizal. It's a two - storey house. 

May ilang mga pictures ni Rizal at sa gawing itaas ang exit.

Portraits of Rizal.

One of the biggest portrait of Rizal in Fort Santiago

On the second level, you would find Ang Tulang Walang-Hanggan Room (The Valedictory Poem). 

Honestly, nagulat ako nang makita ang mga cast ng produksyong ito. Naka costume sila at umaarte na para bang si Rizal at si Josephine Bracken. Pero ang ginagawa nila ay isa pa lang theater act at habang nagsasanay ay suot na nila talaga ang mga costumes sa nasabing pagsasadula ng buhay ni Rizal. Hmp, kailan kaya nila ito i pe -present?

 

This guy went our of the room and act as Jose Rizal while singing together with the lady who acts naman as "Josephine Bracken", kaya mas malapit siyang picturan. :) Ang pogi sabi nga namin ni Mitch!

Sa nasabing lugar din makakabili ng ilang inumin at souvenirs.  Pagbaba namin, makikita naman ang Rizaliano Furniture Hall. Dito makikita ang syempre mga ginamit na furnitures ni Rizal, kaso may entrance, P10.00. Wala ko pera kaya di na ko pumasok. hehe

Said to be the footsteps of Rizal

Sabi nang iba, ito nga raw ang mga footsteps nang ating si Rizal. The footprints show the path taken by Jose Rizal from his dungeon in Fort Santiago to his final execution place at Bagumbayan in Rizal Park.

Other pictures took from Fort Santiago.

After historical tour at Fort Santiago, we ate lunch at Binalot, went to Manila Cathedral and lastly, to Luneta Park.

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