Must-see Places in Vigan City

Baluarte is one of the tourist spots in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Animal lovers will really love the place because it has a mini zoo inside where you’ll see different kinds of animals found here in the Philippines and abroad. My first visit to Baluarte was in 2010 with my hubby, my son who is one year-old then, my sister-in-law and hubby’s grandma. We really enjoyed the place because it is a bonding moment for the family as well. Unlike other tourist destinations, getting inside Baluarte is absolutely free. You just have to write your name in the logbook. You can also take pictures as many as you want. If you want to buy souvenir items, they are available a few meters away.

Calle Crisologo is a place where you can see ancestral houses and it is also a nice spot to take pictures because it seems like you are in the early times.  Souvenir items are also all over the place.

St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral this was built by the Augustinians 1790-1800. A place where you can meditate for a while.

Suncity

     Cagayan Holiday and Leisure Resort Philippines or commonly known as “Suncity” is located at Brgy. Tangatan, Sta. Ana, Cagayan Philippines. As of the moment, I can say that it is the best resort here in Sta. Ana. It can even compete to the well-known resorts not only in the province but in the entire country as well. 

If you want to stay overnight or for a couple of days you may stay at the villas (Grand Villa, Superior Villa, Deluxe Oceanfront Villa,Luxury VIP Villa, where you can be assured of a comfortable and luxurious stay.  

Grand Villa

Superior Villa

Grand Villa

Superior Villa

Deluxe Oceanfront Villa

Deluxe Oceanfront Villa

Luxury VIP Villa

Luxury VIP Villa

For people who are fond of water sports, Suncity has the Blue Water Sports Center where you can enjoy different and exciting activities. If you want to relax you can visit Suncity’s Spa Origin. Or if you want to exercise and remove your excess fats you may go to Suncity’s Gym. 

Spa

Spa

Spa

Spa

Spa

Spa

Gym

For people who are into night life, Sky Lounge (KTV) or the Winner Bar is the best place. And of course the place where you can dine and enjoy a wide range of tempting and innovative delicacies, Suncity has The One-Chinese Restaurant or if you prefer the Chinese noodle then Noodle 8 is the one for you.

Sky Lounge

Sky Lounge

Sky Lounge

So, what are you waiting for? Come and visit one of Santa Ana's best.

Rainy Season Begins

        It keeps on raining again. 

Most of the time, I am just inside the house playing with my baby and hubby or watching movies while having a snack. Actually, during rainy season we can still have a lot of bonding moments even just inside the house. 

But the most important thing is to be aware that rainy season is also a time where most of us, especially kids, get sick.

Here’s a list of the common sickness during rainy season:

(Reference: http://www.jpsimbulan.com/2008/07/19/common-diseases-and-health-conditions-during-the-rainy-season/)

1.      Common cold and Flu-both are usually associated with coughing and sore throat

2.      Diarrhea-usually caused by drinking unclean water

3.      Typhoid Fever-is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with feces from an infected person

4.      Dengue Fever-(transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti (rarely Aedes albopictus) mosquito)

5.      Leptospirosis-(transmitted to humans through unsanitary water on the streets which has mixed with rat urine).

     But these things can be prevented. Let’s just remember the basic things like staying inside the house if it’s raining or if there’s a need to go out then we should bring an umbrella or wear a raincoat to avoid getting wet. Taking vitamin C will also help and of course ensuring that the water we drink is clean.

     Remember the old adage guys which say, “Prevention is better than cure.” So, let’s be responsible and stay healthy. 

LETTING GO OF A GRUDGE

         It is very easy to tell someone to just forget and move on after a not-so-good incident. But based on my experience, it is easier said than done. No matter how much you tell yourself to feel ok, it pains you. And one of my weaknesses really is to easily let go. 

There are times that I wanted to keep on talking just to burst out the pain and anger within me but at times I feel better if I just keep quiet.

     My hubby is always the person I talked to if I have problems that keep on bothering me. 

He used to tell me to just forget and move on and he always reminds me the fact that everybody is experiencing such. It doesn’t matter how big or small your problems are what matters most is your ability to deal with them.

     Problems are just spices of life to make us stronger and better persons. Let’s just take them positively and treat them as an avenue to learn new things. 

A Working Mom

     Being a working mom is not really easy. 

You really have to fix your schedule to make sure that nothing is forgotten. You have to wake up early in the morning to attend to your child's needs like feeding him, bathing him, preparing his milk and bottles, giving his vitamins, giving reminders to "yaya" and a lot more. 

After that, you have to be in a hurry because you're almost late at work. You don't even have so much time to fix yourself (I usually go to work with my hair uncombed). Then, at lunch break I am again in a hurry to go home because I only have one hour break. As soon as I arrived home, I have to feed my baby and then eat my lunch after and while eating I'll ask "yaya" what happened the whole morning and then give new reminders again for the afternoon. After a 5-minute preparation, I'll kiss my baby and then go to work again. 

     At 6PM, time to go home again. Upon arriving home, I'll kiss & hug my baby and ask about his activities the whole afternoon while "yaya" prepares our dinner.  

After dinner, I have to bath baby again and get him ready for sleep. When he's already asleep it doesn't mean "sleeping time" for me also but time to pick his toys scattered everywhere and time to prepare his milk and bottles while "yaya" is busy washing the dishes and other household chores. After everything is put into place I still get to watch a little of my favorite "teleserye" then time to go to sleep. But at times, I get to sleep very very late because fortunately "daddy" has a signal and since we seldom communicate because of the nature of his work we really text a lot and even talk for an hour or longer (if luckily, there are phone cards vendor nearby the port). 

     But even if I seldom enjoy the pleasure of sleeping for longer hours; even if there are times that I neglect myself just to make sure my baby is always fine still I feel contented and happy because I had the chance to become a mother and experience the "JOY" of it.  

     And having my baby is a blessing that I'll treasure for the rest of my life.

SANTA ANA, a paradise!!!

Santa Ana is a town in Cagayan Valley Philippines. It is a 3-4 hour drive from the city of Tuguegarao. From Tuguegarao, one can ride on a bus--- ARMEL or CALTRANS or take a van then get off at Santa Ana Commercial Center ("Palengke") and ride on a tricycle (10.00 is the minimum fare) going to the hotel or place of your choice. Santa Ana offers a lot of beautiful and awesome places to visit. Different resorts and beaches plus casinos. It is a very nice place to spend the weekends and holidays. It is a place worth visiting.

white sand beach

Palaui Island

Anguib Beach

sunset 

Suncity

Suncity

Cape Engano

Santa Ana, Cagayan is also known as the "Boracay of the North". 

PLACES TO VISIT

1. Suncity- located @ Brgy. Tangatan, Santa Ana
2. Jotay Beach Resort-located @ Brgy. Centro, Santa Ana
3. Balai Cagayano- located @ Brgy. Diora-Zinungan, Santa Ana
4. Orquidia Beach Resort-located @ Brgy. Zinungan, Santa Ana
5. Lordwin's Beach Resort-located @ Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Santa Ana
6. Avalon Beach Club-located @ Brgy. Rapuli, Santa Ana
7. Jerolinda Beach Resort- located @ Brgy. San Vicente, Santa Ana
8. Anguib Beach (white sand beach)
9. Cape Engano

What Santa Ana Commercial Center offers?

-grocery stores
-vegetable stalls
-wet market (fresh sea foods like fish, shells and seaweeds @ a very affordable prices especially if one knows how to haggle)
-beauty salons
-internet cafe
-boutiques
-lotto outlet
-rice stalls
-fruit stands
-drug stores
-ukay-ukay stand
-others

*There are also 6 gasoline stations--- two in Brgy. Casambalangan (Petron & Shell) , two in Brgy. Centro (Petron & Shell) , one in Brgy. Sta. Cruz (Phoenix) & one in Brgy. San Vicente (Petron).