Appetite for Life: July 2015

I've been obsessed with swimsuits earlier this year. And what to do with all these new suits? Wear them! Disclaimer: My body's ~~never~~ not swimsuit ready but I had to suck it up to justify my shopping spree.

So when summer came I grabbed every opportunity I could get hitting the pool or the beach.

1. Quest Hotel

My sibs and I had a short staycation at Quest Hotel. While they were enjoying the room's AC and cable, I was out and about by the pool.

Their pool was medium-sized and was crowded when I was there. What I liked about it was that it was well-maintained and not too deep.

How much? P2600 for overnight, with buffet breakfast.

2. Pacific Cebu Resort International

I remember it was the day of Manny Pacquiao's so-called "Fight of the Century". While everyone glued had their eyes on the television, my friends and I thought about going to the beach coz there was definitely no traffic!

The resort's colors were beach-inspired and refreshing. They had 3 swimming pools: one only 2 feet deep (probably for kids), the other one was for dive practice, and the third one was where we went.

How much? P700 per head, inclusive of a buffet lunch and use of amenities.

3. Pandanon - Caohagan islands

I was invited to join a team building activity that involved island hopping. The significant islands I remember were Pandanon and Caohagan. Look at the white sand!

How much? P100 entrance fee to Pandanon. Other expenses were c/o the team I went with.

4. Cebu Parklane International Hotel

When my dear friend Ivy arrived, we stayed at Cebu Parklane Hotel. I was a bit disappointed because their pool didn't look well maintained. We still took a morning dip though. Luckily our eyes didn't turn red.

How much? P1800 overnight, room only no breakfast.

5. Best Western Plus Lex Cebu

The fun continued at Best Western Lex when Ivy and her family stayed there for a night. The pool was small but pretty enough because of the lights. It was also located at the rooftop so we could see Cebu city from where we were swimming.

How much? Free for me :P

6. Tingko, Alcoy

It has been a while since I was here, mainly because I thought it was too commercial. But I realized if you were just after a white sand beach that's conveniently located, this is the right place.

How much? P300+ bus fare back and forth, P10 entrance fee, P25 shower fee, P200 table rental, P80 for 1.5 Sprite.

That ends my summer sun escapades. Tell me about yours!

I’m really not into cheesy post titles but this is so spot on!

Last July 4, the Cebu Blogging Community celebrated its first year anniversary at the F Cafe & Bar. Around 50+ members of the community, including myself, got together for a night of friendship, food, fun, and fabulousness.

The theme was black, and everyone looked their best. We mingled with our fellow bloggers, got our bellies full, played games (won a few), took photos at every turn and danced the night away. The best part? Everything was for FREE and no one went home empty-handed - thanks to our generous sponsors.

Major Sponsors: Yamba, Globe, Hooq, Turtulele, Capdase and Kublai Khan Mongolian Restaurant

Minor Sponsors: Yoyi's Pastries & Desserts, GIGA Naturally, Static Data Hosting and Global Hub Serviced Offices

On a deeper note, CBC’s one year anniversary made me think about what I’ve learned and how the community helped me improve myself - as a blogger and as a person. Here are the ways CBC made a difference in my life.

1. It boosted my confidence as a writer.

Sharing your published work with others is scary, especially when it’s your first time. Before CBC, I wasn’t confident sharing my work on social media. There was always the fear of being judged. But thanks to supportive group leads and weekly syndication, I finally got over that terrifying feeling.

2. It enhanced my photography skills.

I was never good at taking photos. Everyone who would ask me to take his or her photo would have to give explicit instructions regarding distance, background, etc. I sucked at taking food pics too, which is so ironic since I also run a food blog.

Being part of the community, I learned that documentation (in the form of photos) is important. So I did my research and put my learning to work. See where I am now. Not bad, huh?

3. It helped me hone my craft.

If you want to get better at something, you need to practice. Writing is not an exception. Our community encourages us to blog regularly and that in itself helped me improve my writing. Members also shared whatever blogging tips they have and in turn, we learn from each other. Plugging Suw(h)at 'coz they gave me something to write on and 'coz they're awesome.

4. It challenged my creativity.

Following other bloggers and discussing new trends with them challenged my creativity. Slowly, I began to refine my blogging process. I started to create an editorial calendar, listed blog titles that were more appealing to my audience, modified my blog post formats to make it easier to read. As mentioned earlier, I also looked for ways to make my photos look better whether on social media or on my blog.

5. It opened doors for me to improve my personality.

Aside from attending personality seminars such as this one, participating in blogging events taught me a lot about handling myself in public and in the presence of other people. Sometimes, those people are people in authority; on other times, they’re celebrities with six-pack abs.

6. It further strengthened my discipline.

Being a member of the community meant conforming to a set of rules and regulations. There were deadlines to adhere to and a few other things. Proud to say, I’ve never missed a deadline since I started.

7. It reminded me about accountability and responsible journalism.

These days, anyone can post anything on their blogs. While I don’t rant or vent my frustrations online, most of my blog topics were senseless and practically useless. During our CBC Ultimate Meetup last March, we were reminded that as bloggers, we had the responsibility of sharing useful information and promoting social good. We even signed a treaty about being accountable for what we publish online.

8. It led me to meeting other bloggers - who eventually became my friends.

We are a group of over 70 bloggers (and counting). Most of the time we just chat or comment on each other’s blogs, but we also have blogger night outs and parties. Some of them have actually become close friends of mine!