UP Balay Kalinaw

My wife had a planning activity at UP Bahay Kalinaw located at Guerrero corner Dagohoy Streets, UP Camplus, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.

Not your ideal place though. But if you need a place or venue for meetings, seminars, conference, etc. away from office distractions, not to mention, budget constraints, then you can try this place.

A little info can be found at this site: http://www.upd.edu.ph/updmap1b.htm

My wife's personal rating: 5 out of 10.

The Conservatory, Manila Peninsula Hotel

We just had a joint event with Finarch and Microsoft to showcase the Financial Architect Solution. Financial Architect is an application based on Microsoft technology intended for Basel II compliance of financial institutions.

It was an early morning event that spanned around 3 hours. We have a speaker from Microsoft and one from our foreign partner, Finarch, directly from Belgium. The event was successful in a way with respect to the positive turnaround of attendance by representatives of executive management of different banks. Further, we got positive responses and feedbacks, and we just hope that the Financial Architect solution would penetrate the Philippine market.

We would like to thank all our guests for sparing us some time from their busy schedule, brave the traffic due to bad weather, to take part on this event. Kudos to all of you!

As regards to the venue, We held the event at the Conservatory, Manila Peninsula Hotel located at Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines. The place is ideal for functions, seminars, mini parties, etc. On a regular day, the Conservatory is a restaurant where some of the best bands in the Philippines play soul, blues, pop, retro and jazz standards. The food and the service are okay, sadly, I don't have any idea on rates.

My personal rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Please check out some photos:

Travelling the Philippines!

I thought of writing this blog to revisit in my mind the beautiful places in the Philippines I have set foot on. Indeed, my eyes are lucky to have witness mother nature at its best.

My first job was in Batangas City and was later transferred to Oriental Mindoro. In Oriental, I have visited places like Calapan, Victoria, Socorro, Pinamalayan, Bongabong, Roxas, etc. I have been to the Occidental was well, particulary San Jose. I left Mindoro in favor of a new job in Manila which is in line with my computer degree.

My second job was on a bank. Here, I travel a lot to different branches doing technical system works, either troubleshooting, upgrades, or new implementations. I enjoyed my work because I get to see different places from south to north of Philippines. I've been to places in the north like Isabela, Laoag, La Union, Baguio, Dagupan, Lingayen, Tarlac, etc. As regards to south, I've been to Naga, Palawan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Kalibo, Cebu, General Santos, Butuan, etc. Though my job was exciting, I have to call it quits for greener pastures.

I'm on my third job now. I have less work-related travel, but my job is now more focused and it yields more benefits, careerwise and financialwise.

Among the places in the Philippines I have visited, the notable ones are as follows:

• Marzon Beach Resort in Bulabog, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan. I would personally rate this resort 7 out of 10. However, for the Boracay sand, I'll give it a 10!
• Hundred Islands National Park in Brgy. Lucap, Alaminos City, Pangasinan. 6.5 out of 10 would be my personal rating. The place is nice, but I have reservations on the maintenance of the place. But for the enchanting view of the islands, a salute to a rating of 9.
• Camiguin Beach Club in Barrio Yumbing, Mambajo, Camiguin Island. This is 8.5 out of 10. I love the pool, the service is good, not to mention our unique tour of White Island. Camiguin is really one of a kind. In one day, we are able to visit great places like Hot Spring, Cold Spring, Sunken Cemetery, Station of the Cross on a hill, and Tuasan Falls. It's highly recommended for all those nature lover.
• Dos Palmas Island Resort and Spa located among a group of islands and sandbars in Honda Bay, northeast of Puerto Princesa, the capital of Palawan. This is the best resort I have been to so far. As Dos Palma say: "Celebrate the joys of a great island experience. The freedom of escape... The luxury of time... The tranquility of nature... All within the timeless embrace of a private island haven." Rating- a whopping 9 out of 10.
• Underground River in Sabang, Puerto Princesa. Personally, I'll rate this 7. For the unique experience, a rate of 8.5.
• Crocodile Farm located between Iwahig and Puerto Prinsesa in Palawan. Not much to see because the crocs are sleeping most of the time. But for the effort and importance they are giving to the crocodile conservation project, a perfect 10!

Lastly, during my collegiate days, I was able to visit two great places among our numerous barkada out-of-town gimiks. One is a very tranquil island known as Polilio Island in Quezon, and the second Puerto Galera in Mindoro.

Writing this blog was one great experience. I was able to travel a great whole of Philippines in 40 minutes writing time. Truly, Philippines and Philippine tourism has a lot to offer globally.