Throw Back Thursday: Thunder Bird Resorts – Rizal Getaway!

Hi! It’s been a while since the last time I posted here in my blog…so busy and things are getting complicated for the last few months. Anyway, here I am trying to share some of my activities, experiences etc. etc. Actually, I have lots of things to blog about but the time didn’t permit me to do so. Now I’m thinking to have a series of Throwback Thursday blog entries, It will be posted every Thursday (obviously.. hehehe). I hope I can be consistent to do it weekly or else I should call this Super Throwback Thursday.

For the start I want to share to you our Staycation to majestic Thuder Bird Resort – Rizal. We went there during my last year’s vacation, October 12, 2013. I have booked directly in their website for 3,979 per night which includes breakfast for 2. We reserved 5 rooms for 16 pax, The rate is reasonable compared to a day tour (8 to 5PM only) which cost 1,500 per person, included in the rate are uses of the amenities and 1 light snack and lunch.

The Resort is located in the first-class municipality of Binagonan Rizal. Can be reach about an hour from our location in Pasig City.They provided free shuttle service for casino players and hotel guests from different pick up points in Metro Manila and Rizal. Check out their websites for the timings.

Thunderbird Resorts Rizal is one of the best resort to visit for a number of reasons. Aside from the breathtaking view of longest mountain range of Sierra Madre, they also offer superb amenities and activities to enjoy.

View from our room

Hotel Facade

Rooms

The assigned room was huge and has 2 queen size beds, more than enough to accommodate 4 persons.  Imagine we’re only 2 in the room me and my daughter. We just actually shared  in 1 bed, another 1 empty… How I wish my hubby was with us too. They have provided toiletries and coffee making facility and complimentary bottled water.

Comfy Bed

Happy Kiddos

Toiletries

Coffee making facility

Infinity Pool, Jacuzzi, Pool Bar

The resort has infinity pool, kiddie pool and jacuzzi which we truly enjoyed.

 

Infinity pool

Kiddie Pool

 

Pool bar 

We also ordered some beer for only 10 pesos and  yummy lechon kawali from the pool bar

Play Area

They have also play area for the kiddos .

Play Area

Koi Pond

The Koi Restaurant

The package comes with free breakfast only. Since we want to maximize our stay, we opted to have our dinner in their restaurant too. Honestly the food was just so-so to me, nothing spectacular in the menu. They even serve the half cooked barbecue to their guests.

 

With the gang enjoying the food

Fiesta Casino

The packages comes with complimentary Casino voucher which we  didn’t use since we need to shell out 300 pesos more to play. Nevertheless, we were so lucky to watch the concert of Erik Santos in the Casino for Free.

 

Aside from the mentioned above there grand ballroom where events can be held. Just right next to the property is an 18-hole golf course, too.

Golf course next to the hotel

Promotions

Thunder bird hotel offers promotions all year round. During our stay we availed the following:

Free Concert of Erik Santos at the Casino

October Fest – They offer a bottle of  beer for Php 10.

Eat all you can for 299 at Koi Restaurant

Sunday Funday – Lots of activities for the whole family such cake workshop and body painting for kids

Ongoing promotions

Sunday Funday 

Thunder Bird Resort-Rizal

website: www.thunderbird-asia.com

e-mail: rizalreservations@thunderbird-asia.com

Mike and his aluminum cans!

Meet Mr. Michael Del Moro Manlogon

Mike is just an ordinary OFW here in Abu Dhabi, working as a regular employee of Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society. Like a typical OFW like me he’s earning just enough to support the needs of his family in the Philippines.   What is special about this man is his BIG HEART to help less fortunate kids in the in his country.

He is the man behind the Can Collection Drive here in Abu Dhabi, he personally collecting the cans from restaurants and groceries and put them into recycling.  By doing this he‘s able to help the environment and at the same time provide educational support to the unprivileged student in his hometown.

He is also supporting World Vision Philippines, You can see him joining several charity bazaars and flea market here in Abu Dhabi, proceeds of the table top sale goes to World Vision.

Mike has a charity bazaar on 21 September 2013, in Sheraton Hotel Abu Dhabi you can donate whatever you like (books, dress, shoes, used home appliance, furniture etc)

See, we don’t need to be in the Government service to help our less fortunate Kababayan’s in the Philippines, we don’t need to be rich and powerful to share our blessings with others. We can do it in our own little ways. We can set Mike as an example.

If you are in Abu Dhabi we can also support Mike for his fund raising campaign by saving your aluminum cans and contact Mike or myself to collect it from your place.  You can also save your old books, hardly used school and office supplies (pens, pencils, eraser etc,) then we can send it to the less fortunate students. Michael can be contacted at michael_manlogon@yahoo.com

God bless you Mike, may you continue to do your noble works. Please continue to be a blessings to others.

You may want to read other articles about Mike in the link below:

http://gulfnews.com/life-style/people/help-poor-children-go-to-school-yes-you-can-1.973415

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/246852/pinoyabroad/pinoy-in-uae-recycles-aluminum-cans-to-send-phl-kids-to-school

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
― Mother Teresa

“No one has ever become poor by giving.”
― Anne Frank, diary of Anne Frank

Iskolar ng Bayan!

While browsing my FB last night, I have just noticed this inforgraphics of the tuition fees of  leading colleges / universities in Manila. I just can’t help but be proud to myself that I graduated from the Universities which has a very low tuition fees yet has a very good education system.

Imagine during my Academic years I’m paying roughly around 300 pesos only for my 21 units subjects, Isn’t it amazing! I’m very thankful that PUP still maintain the same affordable tuition fees despite increase in all basic commodities.

Children are entitled the right for education, but how can we give good future to our kids if only few can afford good education. Of course we love to go to prestigious School like Ateneo, DLSU and UP, but how about  those families who have enough only for their food.

I hope the government will build more Universities and Colleges like PUP which offer very affordable Tuition Fees. A lot of student will be benefited specially the low income families who’s their children are very eager to go to college to achieve their dreams.We are living in a fast paced world. We need to mold our children to be globally competitive. Let’s shape the leaders of tomorrow.

Mabuhay ka Sintang Paaralan!

T-Shirt for a Cause

As a  way of helping our Kababayan’s in CDO and Iligan City affected by Bagyong Sendong, I organized Shirt for a Cause. T-shirts provided by Printsonalized.com.

As of today I already sold 30 pcs. of Personalized Shirts and still counting. I hope more T-shirts will be sold before the month end.

If you are in Abu Dhabi you  can help also by buying Printsonalized Shirt. Just call the contact details in the poster or you can drop e-mail to me analynalbesa@gmail.com.

Nakatulong ka na may T-Shirt ka pa?

Update: I sold out 50 pcs of Shirts for 10 days (December 20-30, 2011). Donations was sent to Philippine Embassy through Bayanihan Council.

Thank you for those people who supported my Shirt for a Cause!

Pamilyang OFW!

Ang nakaraan

Four years ago sinubukang makipagsapalaran ng bunso kong kapatid sa bansang UAE o mas kilala sa tawag na Dubai. Hindi na bago sa amin ang pangingibang bansa dahil yun ang ipinangtaguyod ng ama ko sa amin magkakapatid. Isa akong anak ng OFW kalahati ng buhay ko ay wala si papa sa aming tabi , mahigit dalawang dekada si papa nagtrabaho sa bansang Arabo, mas piniling lumayo para mabigyan ng magandang buhay ang pamilya. Maging si mama ay naranasan din mag abroad, 2 taon syang naging mananahi ng isang prominenteng pamilya sa Riyadh, isang typical na kasambahay no, day-offs, no overtime pay.

Hindi  man lang pumasok sa isip ko na isa sa aming magkakapatid eh pipiliing makapag trabaho sa ibang bansa partikular na sa Middleast. Lahat kameng magkakapatid eh may mga maayos na trabaho at maliit na negosyo na kahit papaano eh nabubuhay ng maayos sa pang araw araw. Bukod pa sa alam namin ang hirap ng buhay na malayo sa Pamilya. Si kuya ay nagsalita na rin minsan na hinding hindi sya mag aabroad, hinding hindi nya pipiliing malayo sa pamilya dahil para sa kanya sipag at tyaga lang ang kailangan maari mo ng marating ang mg pangarap mo sa buhay.

Ang pakikipagsapalaran

Subalit alam natin na walang permanente sa mundo lahat ay pwedeng magbago . Minsan di mo alam may ibang plano pala ang tadhana para sa’yo. To make the story short, matapos ang ilang buwan sumunod na rin ako sa kapatid ko dito sa UAE.

Tuluyan na ring kinain ni kuya ang sinabi nyang di mag aabroad. Pinili na rin nyang makipagsapalaran sa ibang bansa ng subukin sya ng tadhana. Nilimas ng magnanakaw ang computer business nya sa Pilipinas na ilang taon rin niyang pinghirapang ipundar. Bukod pa sa kakapusan dahil sa lumalaking pamilya, kakapanganak lang ng kanyang asawa sa pang apat nilang anak.

Naging maayos ang pakikipagsapalaran namin sa UAE, nabiyayaan ng maayos ayos na trabaho at napupunan naman ang lahat ng pangangailangan ng pamilya. Masaya kame sa puntong ito subalit ang pagkamiss sa pamilya ang unti unting nagpapabigat ng buhay dito sa disyerto. Hindi kailanman matatakpan ng salapi at materyal na bagay ang presensya mo bilang ina, anak at kapatid. Ang mga panahong kailangan nila ng kapiling pag masaya o malungkot man sila.

Ang Bakasyon

Dalawang beses ako kung umuwi sa Pilipinas sa loob ng isang taon, magastos sobra pero aanhin mo ang pera kung ang kapalit naman eh lungkot hindi lamang sa side mo kundi sa mga naiwan mong mahal sa buhay. Kung single lang siguro ako, kaya kong hindi umuwi ng straight 5 years. Ngunit may  anak akong kailangan ng gabay ng isang ina. Wala pang sasaya pa sa isang ina na makita ang kanyang anak na nakangiti at tumatalon sa tuwa habang sinasalubong ka sa Airport, priceless ika nga.

Gustuhin ko mang umuwi sa Pilipinas for good para makasama ko na sila, ang mga pangarap ko para sa kanya ang syang nangingibabaw. Alam kong hindi ko kikitain sa Pilipinas ang kinikita ko dito, alam naman natin kung gaano kahirap ng buhay sa Pilipinas. natatakot akong di sya mapag aral sa maayos na school or maibigay ang gustong gusto nyang laruaan at matikman ang mga paborito nyang pagkain, kaya lagi kong pinagdarasal sa panginoon  na sana isang araw makasama ko sila dito sa Abu Dhabi.

Ang pagdating

Ako na yata ang pinakamasayang tao noong araw na maaproved ang visa ng family ko. Sa wakas magkakasama na ulit kame, personal ko ng magagabayan ang paglake ng anak ko at magkakatuwang na kame ng asawa ko sa paghahanapbuhay. Pagtutulungan naming mag asawa ang aming kinabukasan, ang makapag ipon agad at makabili ng bahay, makapag tapos sa maayos na skwelahan ang anak ko at makapagtayo ng sariling negosyo sa Pilipinas para kahit papaano ay makatulong sa mga kamag anak kong walang trabaho.

Ang pagbabalik

Sa ngayon ang ay nandito kameng magkakapatid sa Abu Dhabi kasama ang aming mga sariling pamilya. Panandalian namin iiwan ang Pilipinas kasama ang taimitim na dasal na sana ay maging matagumpay ang pakikipagsapalaran namin sa disyerto.

Alam kung dadating ang araw na babalik kame sa lugar kung saan nandon ang puso namin, ang lugar kung saan kame magiging masaya. Masarap pa rin manirahan sa sarili nating bansa, di man kaseng alwa ng buhay na tinatamasa sa UAE, wala pa rin hihigit sa simple, masaya at masaganang pamumuhay sa bayan mong sinilangan kapiling ang mga mahal mo sa buhay.

Ang post na ito ay aking entry sa Pinoy Expat / OFW Blog Award (PEBA). Kung nagustuhan nyo po ang aking sinulat bisitahin po ang kanilang website http://www.pinoyblogawards.com/ pakivote po ang nominee no. 10 – Ang blog ni Ana Banana.

Maraming Salamat po!