Amazing Spiderman

I received an invitation from Globe for an exclusive screening of The Amazing Spiderman at no less than SM IMAX Theatre. I was supposed to watch it with my husband but the kids tagged along so I throw all decency outside the window by asking for two more tickets from our Globe account manager. I felt really ashamed but for Spiderman and for the kids, who cares? It was our first time in IMAX we were really giddy.  And it was Zabbie's first time watching movie in big screen. Not to mention the free Flame It Burger and drinks. How amazing is that?

lucky kiddos

I have to beg off in attending our PAS Board Meeting just for this. The new Spiderman, Andrew Garfield is way too HOT for the role. And I think I'm girl-crushing on Emma Stone. She's beyond beautiful. I've read somewhere that they're a real couple off-screen. Oh well, they're too cute together. 

If not for the little drama after the movie, it would've been a wonderful night for the family. Sigh!

Thank you Globe for this treat. Until next IMAX experience!

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel

It just dawned on me that as member of the Philippine Association of Secretaries and Administrative Professionals Cebu Chapter, I get to visit hotels and resorts every month as one of the perks and I never blogged about it. We always hold sponsored membership meetings in various hotels and resorts in Cebu City and Mactan Island.Almost always, we get a guided tour around these venues. 

From now on, I will be blogging about our monthly meetings and post some pictures. I'm sure our sponsors will appreciate it. For a start, let me share with you my experience at Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel - the venue of the 2012 National Convention of Administrative Professionals. I was lucky to be sent by our company to this biggest gathering of secretaries, executive assistants, office assistants and admin professionals. I was with our president, Rhiza who was sent by PAS Cebu Chapter as one of the privileges being the president of our association. 

This is my second time in attending this convention. Being PAS President last year, I was also privileged to attend this gathering. Anyway, going back to the venue, I was very excited knowing that the convention will be held at Sofitel. Aside from the fact that this is one of the most luxurious hotels in the country, I was anticipating the food and the amenities. 

We occupied Mindanao Ballroom for the duration of the convention but lunch was served in other function rooms. 

This was the view from the function rooms. 

Manila Bay

That hammock is so inviting.

Cebu delegation

I think they need to upgrade their furniture --- feels like Marcos regime pa

I didn't get to photograph the food though. I was famished after every session. I wanted to try the famous buffet at Spiral as suggested by the husband but it was closed for renovation after severely hit by typhoon Pedring. Well, that's all folks! I know this is long overdue but better late than never as they say. 

More hotel experiences to dominate this blog...watch out for it!

DAY 17: WHAT'S SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU COULD SAY TO SOMEONE?

Dear YOU,

 What happened?

Love, 

ME

Photo Credit: random tumblr post

Midyear in Review

Early this year, I wrote in my 2012 Starbucks planner a list of the things I want to do this year. 

Allow me to go over the list and give an update of each item...

* Have at least one plane ride out of Cebu - I've had one already when I attended a convention in Manila last April. I also have two more coming up (Boracay and Camsur) - thanks to CebuPac piso fare!

* Wear heels 3 times a week - I've been wearing flats to work so I think I will have a lot of catching up on this one. 

* Run 3 times a week - Been really lazy and sometimes the weather in Cebu has not been cooperating. But I think running twice a week is already good enough. 

* Call Mamsi and Papsi once a week - check!

* Talk to Magee (my sister in Italy) via Skype once a week - there are weeks when our schedules don't meet but we make it a point to give each other updates from time to time.

* Go on a trip to the beach or the mountains with the family once every quarter - the past 6 months, we've been to the beach on several occasions (Plantation Bay, Imperial Palace, Portofino, Nemo's Hideaway, Bahia's Resort Hotel etc.). Two more quarter and I think we would be able to accomplish this.

* Save Php500 every payday - with my siblings living with me, my expenses really shoot up to the highest level and that my take out pay isn't really enough to cover. That explains why I wasn't able to hit this goal. Sigh!

* Read 10 books this year - Thanks to Fifty Shades of Grey, I was able to somehow catch up. I am now on my 4th book this year and wish I could find time to beat my target. 

* Laugh Everyday - thanks to friends and family who never fail to make me laugh everyday. Check!

* Sing and Dance Everyday - sing in the shower but I haven't been dancing lately. 


That's it...my midyear in review. I will need to check on this list from time to time to see how far have I gone. This list somehow gives me some kind of perspective as to what I want to do with my life this year. But I am not putting pressure on myself and just take this year one day at a time. 

Driving...Finally!

Yeah, I finally enrolled myself to a 10-hour driving class after years and years of putting it off. Learning how to drive has been in my bucket list since time immemorial. I want to kick myself for not learning especially when the husband is out on a trip and the car just sits in the garage while I and the kids take public transportation. Don't even mention about bad weather and emergency situations and not being able to even start that darn engine. It sucks!

So, when a colleague recommended this cheap driving school at Php2500 for 10 hours, I finally grabbed the opportunity. I was scared sh*t when the instructor immediately settled me in the driver's seat on day 1. I thought there's some sort of an orientation and familiarization but I was shocked to be behind the wheel immediately with zero knowledge on driving. At first, I was having difficulty as there are a lot of things that you need to focus on --- there's the road, the clutch, the gas, the brakes, the steering wheel, the gears, the side mirrors, the traffic lights, other motorists and the pedestrians among others. But I was able to pull it through with a few engine shut offs in the middle of traffic BUT with no accidents at all. Before I knew it, I was already cruising the streets of Cebu (of course with the instructor in the passenger seat ready to pull the brakes anytime in case I screw up hehe). It is such a liberating experience!

I have yet to get my driver's license since the husband is not yet confident with my driving skills and won't let me drive our car his dad's car. I will make it a point though to hone my driving skills every now and then. As they say, practice makes perfect!

Sunday at Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa

After what seemed like forever, the family finally gets to savor what's left of summer together at no less than at Imperial Palace Waterpark Resort & Spa. We had the perfect weather last Sunday and it was the best time to soak under the Cebu sun. We spent the entire day enjoying the amenities of IP from their island pool, waterpark and the children's favorite - the Captain Hook's. I also tried the resort's death-defying slides - the green slide in particular and it was like whoah! I thought I'm gonna die there and then. But it was so much an adventure and the kids had so much fun. 

We also had lunch buffet at their Familia Restaurant and give in to some guilty gastronomic pleasures. I wanted to try everything in their buffet spread but the stomach can no longer take it. Burp!

We capped the day off at 6pm as the kids still don't want to stop swimming...they're such water babies!

Here are some photos swiped from my facebook:

the girls in their new rash guards

zabbie was all-clingy to her daddy

perfect sunny weather in Cebu

husband enjoying one of the slides

tanned

McDonald's Kiddie Crew 2012

This is the first time that I let my eldest daughter Alex joined McDonald's Kiddie Crew Summer Program this year. She has been complaining about being bored this summer. I don't really enroll my kids to summer class/activity as I want them to rest and not be bothered with waking up early and attend summer school. Plus, it's also the time when my wallet takes a breather from spending.

McDonalds Kiddie Crews Lapulapu Branch

Anyway, after some begging I finally gave in and enrolled her to this 5-day program. She gets to experience being a McDonald's crew through the on-floor training and on top of that, they also have fun activities like arts and crafts. I think the best thing about this program is that they get to meet new friends. I had the biggest surprise coz I was able to meet my highschool batchmate after 16 years during the culminating activity. She also enrolled her kid and they were in the same batch. 

After 16 years, I met up with my highschool batchmate Jaqueline

Yesterday was their graduation at Ayala Center Cebu which was attended by more than a thousand kiddie crews. The event was hosted by Jackielou Blanco. There were also some entertainment courtesy of Cebu All Star Cheering Squad and of course the McDonalds Mascots. I had to skip attending our PAS board meeting to attend this event...mommy duties come first! I had to drag along the younger sibling as well for her to enjoy the event with her ate. I'm thinking of enrolling her in next year's workshop. 

I just had to react to a post in facebook about a parent who do not want to enroll her kids to this program because "she wants her kids to be thinkers and makers instead of workers". I don't think that's the main purpose of this program. Yes, they were being trained how to be a crew but that doesn't mean, they will be a crew in future. We cannot dictate nor predict what the future holds for our children. This "careless" FB shout-out is quite an insult to 1000++ parents who enrolled their kids to this program. Enough said!