Native Parol

The mall was already close when we cut our family concert ( whaaattt??) in one of the rooms of this KTV bar which I'd rather not mention the name cos malls are usually allergic to DSLR. It's normal that a guard would try to stop you to take photos. Stop you_ that's all. But wouldn't care if you had already taken a hundred shots of the place. What's the point??? who knows.

Anyway, before the guard appeared, as usual we had already taken photos, ( reminds me of action movies where police arrived in crime scene only when the exchange of gun bullets of the lead stars were already done and it was about to end. Dead victims on the floor). and what would I do to those photos? Share to you ofcourse.

We chanced upon giant parols (lanterns) hanged on the lobby of the mall. They caught my interest cos of the materials used for each parol. They were made from indigenous and recycled materials.

Take a closer look at this one_ made from disposable plates, forks and some straws.

More colorful straws. . .

This one used recycled plastic materials.

Woven leaves of Anahaw?

This one layed out mix of different edible raw seeds including peanuts in shells on top of native woven mat.

Apparently, this was a contest and above photo won the first price.
Abrupt ending. The guard stopped us at this point.

Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!!!

Waiting to Exhale. . .

- nightly dinner out and bar hopping

- parties left and right

- binge shopping

- traffic jams

- relatives and friends coming home

- tummy bulging

- wallet starts to thin out
- popping chocolates every minute

- credit cards overlimiting

- stressfull cashier queue

- ham crowding in the fridge

- wrapping endless gifts

- diet crashing

- late beds, early morning rush

- crowded malls and tianges

- makeover rush

- party.party.party!!!!!

-@#$%^&**()_~!@#

Well, just make sure to save your spirit for the ultimate day _ Christmas ! For those who had too much of busy city holidays , why not hop- in the car/ a boat or fly with your loved ones this holiday for a quiet, intimate nature bliss celebration. Check my destination archives to your left. All are guaranteed to be as fun places to visit and spend your holiday in.

Stay tuned for Ascertain Bliss holiday trip ;D See ya ;>>>>>

Merry Christmas everyone !!!!!!!!!!!

Tam-Awan Craft Shop

A whaaat???. . . can't figure it out. Can you?








Now let's get to an easy-peasy ones. Miniature Igorot huts for P1k++ each, which authentic-life size ones could also be seen in this museum village _ Tam-Awan Village in Baguio City.

I love visiting ( and buying..) souvenir/craft shops of the places I go to with my girls. It's one way of exposing them to the culture and arts of that certain place.




It's educational . It's like going to a museum sans the ingestion  of a lonely boring place . Apart from the culture and art enhancement, it's also my way of cultivating individualism to my girls.




I always see my girls' eyes light- up with mine everytime we see others' creations. They evoke mixed beautiful feelings of appreciation, amazement and motivation_ moving us to either purchase ( only if we could afford it) them so we could mark an ownership or to awaken our own sense of creativity and put it to work later when we get home.

Products are limited, normally hand made/crafted and only sold here. Unlike those that can be found in the malls which are mass produced and everyone has access to. I always instilled to my girls the beauty of being different and not to be just another one of them. Fashion is a personal statement not a thing to be followed but to lead is a glory. Wow, how's that from your stay home mom ;)))




Well, another sure thing_ creativity is a way of life here. An ignition to fire your own, in case it's presently sleeping or it hasn't risen ever yet.

wood crafts showing tribal culture

wooden mask wall decors

chess set made of weighty metals

wooden pipes

trinkets box or an urn for your ashes ?

bamboo flutes




souvenir key chains for everyone

voodoo doll rings which my witch daughter  couldn't resist, she bought plenty.




more tribal creations for your living room and kitchen




Now, since this post started with a mind boggling art work of a Cordillera artist, I'm leaving you this : Which living thing you think was used as inspiration for art work items above if not a mushroom?

Pueblo por la Playa: Ixtapa Suite

It was late at night and the rainy weather was quite challenging when we arrived at our destination. It was another long weekend in the Philippines and families were out on the road. The usual about 3+ hours drive from Manila to Pagbilao Quezon, became a struggling 6 hours cos of the traffic jams all the way here.








No one was complaining thu'. Everyone was on high spirit when we boarded the shuttle from the parking lot that would send us to the hotel.

Can you spot us in the dark? We went straight to the reception to check-in. And the balloons??




We were the the first family to arrive of our 30+ pax (4 families) party. Some of us would stay at the front beach villas ( see here ) and others were booked here at Ixtapa Suite, the hotel of the resort.
My family was arranged to stay in the villa by the beach. I was happy.

And the balloons?? haha.




It was a debut /party set-up which was scheduled an hour less to start. We found out the reception area was located at the Zapotec Pavillion which was the main function hall of the hotel. We kindah got confused looking for the front desk cos that night the whole space was occupied by the said event.

When we settled down in the the villa, I went back to the hotel to check my friends who were gonna stay there. I wanted to see the rooms there too.

This was one of the rooms in Ixtapa Suite. I thought the rooms are smaller than the villas but carry the Mexican theme all over too.

It has a small sitting room before the main bedroom.  No way not to feel up with those vibrant hues even with that bad weather we endured the whole of our stay.

the bedroom




the bathroom, the villa has nicer bath I thought.




Each room also owns a private veranda.

With this beautiful view of the infinity pools and the beach. And the rain too, that time, haha.

that's my husband..



..watching me from a far while I was sitting in the floating bar of the pool. haha.

This is the clan ( not all in the photo )  who I grew up with in  my hometown hood. No blood relations but a family indeed.  It's like I am adopted that I'm always invited to their family events, haha. Love them.

The ladies of the clan ( & husbands) are actually my girlfriends since childhood. We are all mommies now but glad we still get to enjoy old fun and when together it feels like we are in our childhood again.