PSAHelpline.ph: A Real Life FASTPASS for PSA Certificates

No one enjoys lining up for anything. Even a trip to Disneyland can be a downer and miserable if you have to queue for everything. This is why Mickey and Friends came up with FASTPASS. And thank goodness that there's something similar to FASTPASS for those who want to get their PSA certificates.

Hello, PSAHelpline.ph.

I have used PSAHelpline numerous times since I started working on my own passport renewals and visa applications. 

Its user-friendly web interface made ordering PSA certificates a breeze. All you need to do is to put in all the necessary information and delivery details. After submitting the completed form, you get a reference number for your order. Then, you can settle the payment online (through Visa or Mastercard credit cards, PayMaya, GCash, Bayad Online) or over the counter (through 7-Eleven, Bayad Center, Palawan Pawnshop). 

A Celebration Must-Have: S.A.L.O. Lechon Belly Kitchen

Christmas is just around the corner, yet I could barely feel it. Sure, the breeze is a bit cooler than usual. But the lack of festive and colorful lights make it seem like galaxies away. The coronavirus coupled with damages caused by several typhoons has dampened our high spirits. But we should not let it stop us from celebrating this special occasion with our loved ones. And I'm so glad to discover the perfect Filipino spread that will surely tickle everyone's taste buds!

Hello, S.A.L.O. Lechon Belly Kitchen.

Its name says it all. S.A.L.O. is a food concept that specializes in Filipino dishes that are great for gatherings and potlucks. Its highlighted product, lechon belly, is a sure hit at any party with its perfectly crispy skin and succulent meat. 

My Birthing Story: I Gave Birth During A Global Pandemic

Expecting and giving birth during a global pandemic is one experience I'll never forget. I still remember the mixed feelings R and I had when we first found out that we're expecting. As much as we were thrilled to have a little one of our own, we couldn't help ourselves worry about the looming coronavirus. Everything became different now with the new normal. Medical checkups felt more like mission impossible or being at the setting of the movie Contagion. Baby shopping was all limited to online. And there was also a lack of social interactions with one's support group. The lack of trips outside also limited my physical activities that led to Sam's extended stay of 40 weeks and 4 days. And with no sign of her coming out, I had no choice but to be induced.

I was scheduled to be induced on Friday morning after my last prenatal checkup confirmed that I didn't dilate any further. Stuck at two to three centimeters, I had to head to the hospital (St. Luke's Medical City, Quezon City) that same afternoon.

My First Longboat Race Experience

One of the best perks of tagging along with R during his work trips is being able to have unique experiences. I've had my knees lit on fire as part of massage treatment, and I got to enjoy freshly harvested sugarcane while walking around a sugarcane field. But one of my favorites was my trip to Guagua in Pampanga where we got to witness a local longboat race and even got to ride it too!

Fast and the Furious, Guagua Edition!

Clark and Angeles are the top of mind places when Pampanga's mentioned. Guagua, though a first-class municipality under the same province, usually takes the back seat. But this town has some quirky happenings too!

When in Bohol: Take a Trip to Anda

I fell in love with going to the not so touristy areas of different provinces. These hidden gems are what make me fall in love with my country. It has so much to offer. You just have to sometimes to head towards the unbeaten path. And last December, R and I went to Anda, Bohol for a quick vacation after a grueling journey in South Asia. 

Hello, Anda!

Anda is on the southeast side of Bohol. It is not a very popular tourist spot due to its far proximity from Panglao where most luxurious resorts are situated. In fact, from Panglao International Airport, you have to take a 30-minute ride to get to Tagbilaran and about three hours to get to Anda.

My First Pabili Experience

The Enhanced Community Quarantine made me into an online shopaholic! I get easily influenced to buy whatever I see posted on social media. And when I spotted the seasonal (and rather evasive) star apple on Instagram, I had a sudden strong desire to have some too. After all, summer is never complete without indulging in a few of this delicious fruit. But with our helpers having no access to the market, I had to ask for help online. And here's my kaimito story.

Star Apple or what most Filipinos know as Kaimito is a summer staple. It's so seasonal that it is often out of the market in less than a month. 

I wanted some during the first few weeks of the Manila lockdown and messaged several online fruit stores. Unfortunately, none carry star apple. I got desperate and posted on Let's Eat Pare hoping to get a lead on where to buy. One suggested that I add myself to those pabili Facebook groups. 

When in Boracay: Coast Boracay

Boracay is one of the most popular summer destinations in the Philippines. Its long stretch of fine white sand, scrumptious finds, and a wide range of accommodations make this island a paradise for everyone. And for this year's visit, we decided to try TripAdvisor's number 1 resort on the island which is Coast Boracay.

Hello, Coast Boracay. 

Coast is one of the newer establishments in Boracay but it didn't take long for this modern resort to get the top spot in TripAdvisor with its topnotch service. I have to admit, I was so curious when I heard that it got the coveted spot for two years in a row. This resort must be doing something right for its guests to leave in high spirits! 

Bugana Beach and Dive Resort: A Paradise in Negros Occidental

Negros Island is one of our favorite destinations. Just thinking about enjoying its great food and fresher air makes me want to plan my next visit. I realized though that there aren't a lot of great resort options here as Negros isn't one of the prime tourist spots in the country. But I was glad to have found Bugana Beach and Dive Resort.

Hello, Bugana Beach and Dive Resort.

Bugana is known as one of the best resorts in Negros. With its marvelous view and spacious rooms, it was not surprising for guests to stay here for days or even weeks.

When in Negros Occidental: Nabulao Beach Resort

Negros island is the fourth largest island in the Philippines and home to great cities, delicacies and travel destinations. Sipalay, a city south of Bacolod is known for its numerous beach resorts. A half an hour drive further down would lead you to a municipality called Hinoba-an where you can find Nabulao Beach Resort.

Hello, Nabulao Beach Resort.

This homey and native resort wasn't our first choice for our quick trip down south of Negros but its high TripAdvisor and Agoda ratings got us curious. Too curious that we ended up staying here for 2 nights.

Dumaguete Favorite: Lord Byron's Back Ribs

Did you know that Dumaguete ranked as one of the best places to retire around the world according to a 2014 Retire Overseas Index? I could definitely vouch that after my trip to the City of Gentle People. From its beautiful corals and fresh breeze to scrumptious and affordable food, I could picture having a wonderful life in Dumaguete. And the idea of feasting on Lord Byron's bang for the buck ribs on a weekly basis sounds great to me!

Hello, Lord Byron's Back Ribs.

Lord Byron's is one of the popular dining destinations in the city. With its falls-off-the-bones ribs paired with pocket friendly prices, it's not surprising for this place to be flocked by locals and tourists alike.

Exploring Rizal Shrine in Dapitan City

Dapitan is a small city in Zamboanga del Norte and is not your usual popular tourist destination. It is often treated as a port when travelling to Dumaguete or a passageway to Davao. But history buffs would enjoy taking a short visit here as this place was where the Philippine National Hero, Jose Rizal, was exiled during the Spanish Regime. And the shrine dedicated to him allows everyone to have a glimpse of his life in this humble and quiet city down south. 

Hello, Rizal Shrine, Dapitan. 

Jose Rizal is no stranger to most of us especially if you did your part in history class. Tagged as a Renaissance Man, Rizal has a lot of titles under his belt aside from being a doctor, writer, entrepreneur and hero. 

Paradise in Mactan: An Abaca Boutique Resort + Restaurant Review

Abaca is a popular dining destination in Cebu. Known for its superb bakery that serves mouthwatering and picturesque breakfast staples, Abaca eventually grew into a restaurant group that also owns and manages Maya, Tavolata, Red Lizard, Phat Pho and Luncheonette. For years, Abaca has been synonymous to great meals. But not many know that this Cebu gem also manages a boutique resort in Mactan. And it was like discovering paradise.

Hello, Abaca Boutique Resort + Restaurant.

I was so excited to visit Abaca's resort after reading great reviews of this place on TripAdvisor. From butler service to scrumptious food, many guests claim this place to be close to paradise. 

When in Cebu: Shangri-La Mactan

The Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has been synonymous with stellar service. Having it as one's accommodation during a vacation almost equates to a wonderful and memorable trip. However, with boutique resorts offering more personalized service and more attention to detail, can big hotels like Shangri-La compete? 

Hello, Shangri-La Mactan.

Shangri-La Mactan is one of the popular resorts in Mactan. With its massive lot housing two wings, Garden and Ocean, plus numerous restaurants and amenities, it is not surprising for this resort to be packed with guests, local and foreign alike.

Restaurant Love: Summer Palace

Summer Palace is our go-to place whenever there’s a special occasion or if there’s a guest in town. I never really bother to visit this place before as I used to be not fond of Chinese food. R though was raving about this place and shared how much he loves some dishes served here. And one bite was all it took for me to fall in love with it too.

Hello, Summer Palace.

Summer Palace has been around for several years. As one of the successful dining establishments of Shangri-La Hotel, Summer Palace has garnered a lot of recognition under its belt all thanks to its top notch food and service.

When in El Nido: Huni Lio

El Nido Resorts never fail to deliver exceptional service and gift us with great memories to cherish. This is why we opted to book Huni Lio after finding out that it is also part of the same group. 

Hello, Huni Lio.

Huni is the newest addition to the Lio Estate Resorts group. Knowing that it opened just last June made it so easy for us to confirm our reservation. 

When in Palawan: Miniloc Island Resort

Our eco adventure in Apulit Island Resort made us realize that it might have been a bad idea to head to Miniloc right after. With more complimentary activities to try, we had to delay our plan to recover from hours of snorkeling, swimming and climbing lime stones. 

Hello, Miniloc Island Resort.

Located just 50 minutes away from Lio Airport, Miniloc Island is one of the more popular islands of El Nido Resorts. 

When in Palawan: Apulit Island Resort

Palawan has always been a favorite destination of mine. Basking in the beauty of its wonderful limestone formations and pristine beaches is my idea of vacation. And our stay in Pangulasian Island Resort last February made it an easy decision for us to check out other El Nido Resorts' properties. Our first stop, Apulit Island Resort. 

Hello, Apulit Island Resort. 

Apulit is located at the opposite side of other El Nido Resorts properties and is about two and a half hours away from Lio Airport. We had to take an hour and half van ride to Taytay Pier and take a 50 minute boat ride to the resort. 

When in Puerto Princesa: Costa Palawan

Puerto Princesa is one beautiful city filled with natural wonders. From the famous underground river to striking limestone, this city is a lovely break from the hustle and bustle of Manila. However, we ended up in a rather unpleasant hotel on my first visit which left a negative impression on Puerto Princesa's accommodations. Fast forward to 2019, the island experienced a boom in the hotel and resort industry giving visitors more value for money options. One of which is Costa Palawan. 

Hello, Costa Palawan. 

Costa Palawan is just 10 minutes away from Puerto Princesa International Airport but is on a quieter side of the city. It offers complimentary airport transfer which made us decide to book our last two nights here. 

What Mary Loves: Amorita's New Saffron Dishes

Bohol is one of my favorite islands in the Philippines. Aside from its chill vibe and beautiful beaches, I love that this place is a gold mine for sea urchin. But I found another reason to like Bohol. And that's Amorita and its scrumptious new dishes at Saffron.

Hello, Amorita. 

Amorita is one of the luxury resorts situated in the famous Alona Beach in Panglao. It sits on top of a cliff giving its guests a wonderful view of the beach and sea. 

The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's Mondays Made Better is Back

Monday is the least favorite or most dreaded day of many. It marks the end of weekends and it always feel like it was the longest day as we have to drag ourselves back to work (or reality). But Monday isn't so bad when your favorite drinks are at prices as sweet as its taste at The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf! And yes, Mondays Made Better is back!

Hello, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. 

Mondays Made Better is one of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf's popular promotions that would make anyone look forward to Mondays. With different drinks highlighted every Monday, one would be left excited for work week to start.