The Girl Behind the Pen

With the rise of social media, finding the best hotels and resorts that feed your aesthetic is easier than ever. But there are times that what’s shown in pictures does not live up to your expectations the moment you set your feet in the property. That’s why, when you’re lucky enough to find a place that truly pleases you, you’re in for a great vacation time. 

Five hours and a half from Manila brings you to a little paradise in Sual, Pangasinan. Situated in the middle of a fishing village, Masamirey Cove Resort boasts of a stunning beach, good food, and chill ambiance — basically everything you’d want to have while you’re on a beach trip. 

The beach overlooks many little islands surrounded by gleaming turquoise blue waters, greeting you with warm crashing waves. Those looking for a pristine beach near Manila to unplug from the bustling city life will find it at the Masamirey Cove Resort. It allows you to enjoy a Boracay-like fine white sand sans the crowd.

While there’s a Balinese edge to this gem in Sual, you’d feel that there’s still Filipino touch. Many of its spaces feature nipa hut cabanas and beach lounge chairs made of bamboos. 

The resort also offers tons of water activities. From kayaking to island-hopping tours, you’ll never run out of things to do in Masamirey. But what I really like most about this resort in Pangasinan is its lounge beds facing the beach. You get to enjoy fresh air, a good amount of sunlight touching your skin, and the beautiful view of the sea. There are trees covering the lounge beds so you can enjoy chilling by the beach at any time of the day without worrying about the sun rays. As much as I want to bring out all the energy I have, the lounge beds are calling me to just stay put. 

As for their food, you’re in for a pleasurable gastronomic experience as everything will give you a bang for your buck. I’m a lover of anything sinigang and to use lechong kawali there delighted me in every possible way. 

Nothing beats discovering new places that did nothing but to satisfy you. There’s no denying, Masamirey Cove Resort is an achiever when it comes to that. 

Masamirey Cove Resort

So now, I will be listing all the details you need to know about Masamirey Cove Resort in Pangasinan. 

Address: Sual, Pangasinan

Family Room Rate: PHP 11,000 per night 

Overall look: 9/10

Hospitality: 9/10

Pets allowed? No

Kids allowed? Yes!

Contact information: You may contact them through their Facebook page. 

I'll be honest — no matter how much I try to keep a positive mindset, there's not a day that goes by that I haven't thought of at least a single dilemma that would question my own life. I started to wonder: is the experience of growing up so bad that we keep complaining about it almost all the time? 

In the days leading up to my birthday, every year, I secretly wished that:

• This is the year I find myself.
• This is the year I get to experience the things I’ve been waiting for to happen.
• This is the year I fall in love with myself again and stopped relying on anyone else for happiness.

Here's the funny thing, when we were young, we thought everything we had at that moment was for keeps. But as we age, we slowly realize that not everything is there to last. 

There will be a lot of disappointments, countless heartaches, and soul-crushing heartbreaks but all that is a part of the adulting experience. And, you may end up feeling betrayed not only by the people and opportunities you held dearly but also by your own emotions to the point that you want to build a wall around you to stop letting everybody in.

It may be difficult to accept but the reality is that as we grow up, priorities change and we become our own person. 

I guess the most valuable lesson I’ve learned so far is that it’s okay that our dreams change. Although some of our childhood expectations are far from reality, there are “unplanned” dreams we never thought we’d ever get to fulfill, and things we unexpectedly discovered among ourselves that we never thought we were capable of. 

No one ever said growing up would be easy. But hey, it has its fair share of fun, too. Growing up allows us to meet different versions of ourselves. And each time it puts us through both difficult and easy situations, we come out as different persons. So, let's embrace what this adulting throws us. Let's embrace its certainties and precariousness. Because when we do, chances are that we leave no room for regrets. 

Skirt from Revolve

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Residing in condominiums is an obvious choice, especially for those who choose to live within central business hubs. But more than the perks of being near your workplace or your school, what draws people to choose condominiums is the lifestyle it offers. From the fewer maintenance responsibilities and 24/7 security to its proximity to public services and transportation, living in vertical villages has a lot of advantages. And if you're someone who enjoys the outdoors so much, possibly the most likable perk by far, is the free and full use of facilities that would probably not be available in a stand-alone home.

This is why Camella, the country’s premier real estate developer with the widest geographic reach in the Philippines, realized that to meet the growing needs of their markets, the brand had to expand upward. Camella is evolving its well-loved concept of horizontal-themed neighborhoods by re-creating its residential communities as resort-themed “vertical villages.”

Rising upward and taking Filipino families along for the ride

In six cities — Laguna, Lipa, Puerto Princesa, Bacolod, Butuan, and Davao — Camella has blueprinted seven mid-rise tower communities to date. Camella’s vertical villages are purposely resort-themed: offering landscaped open spaces, pools, function halls, play courts, gyms, and roof decks — amenities that create perfect daily vacations, so every home becomes a private escape. The properties are a blend of the conveniences of a condominium and the facilities of a horizontal village. They are mid-rise towers to lessen the population density, allowing for more privacy and breathing room. They also offer the movement and space of an open village, all this grants its residents a markedly loftier lifestyle with a spread of living options — all nestled in a modern sky-bound tower within, or very close to, bustling business and commercial hubs.

For over 40 years, Camella has been building high-quality, great-value homes, creating well-loved and, often preferred, sanctuaries where Filipinos can raise their families. The Camella communities are designed to be the spaces where the most incredible memories are made. They are always beautifully themed with landscaped green spaces, lifestyle facilities, and business establishments integrated into master-planned neighborhoods. During those years, the Brand became an expert in what Filipinos hope for. This understanding of their market gave Camella the ability to build the communities where Filipino families feel most comfortable — the places they can call theirs, where they are happy to create their memories and their futures. This knowledge made the brand realize that it had to build upward to offer its future homeowners the ability to live near their places of work and lifestyle centers. Thus, the brand expanded its community portfolio from themed community concepts into resort-themed vertical villages, not just creating amazing places to live, but also guaranteeing that every Camella vertical village is a valuable investment.

A new vertical village rises in Laguna

After developing the thriving community of Camella Baia in Bay, Laguna, Camella is elevating the life offered in the locality by master planning the first, and only, a resort-themed condominium in Laguna. Meet Camella Manors Upstate — ready to rise in the beautiful Bay.

Bay — pronounced “ba-ee” — is one of the oldest towns in the province of Laguna, and its first capital city. It languidly wraps around the southern shores of Laguna de Bay, the country’s largest lake, and while many believe that Bay got its name from the lake, the opposite is true. The lake was actually named for the town. 

Laguna itself lies just southeast of Metro Manila, contiguous to the CDB and sharing the shores of Laguna de Bay. Bay is actually easy and breezy one-and-half hours away from the NCR, on a good day.  The trip offers a delightful change of perspective from the rush and buzz of a modern metropolis to the rich greenery, quiet towns, and micro-farms that blanket one’s field of visions for mile after charming mile.

Rising to a life of dreams on so many different levels

While coming in rife with the same popular amenities Camella communities are known for, “Upstate” now offers this lifestyle to Laguna’s denizens. For the health buffs, there will be a basketball court, jogging paths, a play park, and a swimming pool. There will even be a pet park for animal lovers. 

A Clubhouse will gather the residents together in celebration and much-needed bonding. The towers will come with roof decks to enjoy the lovely Laguna sunsets. Here, Camella Manors Upstate will offer relaxing seating, pocket gardens, and the best views in town.

The towers will be “smart buildings,” including key card entry and alarm systems in the units. They also come with fire and smoke warning alarms, a sprinkler system, and, for even stronger security, full CCTV coverage in the common areas. “Upstate,” is a beacon of progress and convenience amidst business and commercial centers, service centers, top educational institutions, places of worship, and major transportation hubs — offering both easy access to whatever one needs in the day-to-day, and the quiet sanctuary of a home within a well-managed private residential neighborhood.

Beyond this, Camella Manors Upstate opens opportunities for investors wishing to take full advantage of the continuous growth of real estate and industry in South Luzon. One mustn’t forget that the area is also one of the fastest-growing tourism hot spots.

Offering an elevated lifestyle is the key vision built into the master plan of Camella Manors Upstate. Camella’s condominium communities are an amazing way to live. They are designed to allow one to dream loftier dreams... sometimes even beyond one’s expectations.

To know more about Camella Manors Upstate and other condominium projects, visit https://www.camella.com.ph or follow us on social media @CamellaOfficial.

As someone who works day and night, getting a night of quality sleep can be a struggle. It becomes even more difficult when I am stressed. And when I don't get enough sleep, I'm usually cranky the next day. Let's be real — sleeping dictates our health in general, and the kind of day we will wake up to. 

While the room ambiance and temperature play huge roles, getting quality sleep is typically dependent on the kind of mattress you sleep on. This is why, Uratex is staying true to its mission of providing the best sleep experience through high-quality mattresses, foams, pillows, and other sleeping solutions. 

Their latest innovation? The Senso Memory Frost Collection!

The mattress that keeps you cool all night

The Senso Memory Frost collection is infused with DuoFrost Technology. It consists of Senso Memory foam coated with cooling technology which also adapts to the body’s contour and a cool-to-touch fabric for an instant cooling sensation. This new collection is up to 5 degrees cooler than Uratex’s previous Memory Foam Mattress. It also prevents heat build-up for sustained coolness and thermal comfort.

What you'll love about the Senso Memory Frost collection 

• They are covered with Cool-to-Touch Fabric, a premium knit fabric for an instant cooling sensation. 
• Its Senso Memory Foam is also coated with cooling technology, which also adapts to the body’s contour providing superior comfort and relieving pressure points.
• The products are also sanitized to effectively prevent bacteria, odor, mildew, and dust mites, keeping the mattress clean and hypoallergenic.
• Both Senso Memory Frost Mattress and Topper are Quality-Guaranteed and offer 10 years of warranty.

Have a good night's sleep with Uratex | Enjoy huge discounts!

I know mattresses can be expensive but investing in a good one will do more good than bad! But don't worry! If you want to get a Senso Memory Frost Mattress from Uratex, you can enjoy up to 30% OFF when you purchase here! The promo runs until December 31, 2022 only. You can also get one (1) Senso Frost Pillow with every purchase of Senso Frost Mattress from December 1 to 31.

For more information, follow @UratexPhilippines on Facebook or visit Uratex’s official website and official stores in Shopee and Lazada.

Baguio has always been on everyone’s bucket list but IDK, I always wonder: what’s so good about Baguio that people really love? 

Tbh, whenever the chance presents itself to me, I’m always shunning the thought of going there. As soon as Ber months start, my mom would always tell me to book a hotel in Baguio so we can spend Christmas there along with thousands of people thinking the same. I’m always the first one in the family to object. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed my time during my past trips to the Summer Capital. 

I just didn’t fancy traveling 6 hours just to what — be stuck in traffic again or congest the city even more? I’ve been there several times already and each time I visit, it just gets worse. Everywhere I go, there’s a queue for just sightseeing, for getting souvenirs, for getting my fave Good Shepherd ube jam, and even for getting lunch. Does the line ever end? 

In October this year, I gave Baguio another chance. This time, I appreciated it even more. The crowd was still there but not as much as it is during peak seasons. Perhaps, I was too young to appreciate Baguio then. Or maybe I visited at the wrong time. 

Then, every core memory of me in Baguio came running to me — listening to teachers’ many ghost stories before sleeping at what has been said a haunted place, posing beside a white horse with pink hair for a photo op, getting 3 for ₱100 keychains with my name on (I still have them now), getting more sets for my friends and cousins, lining up to get a few jars of ube jam from the Good Shepherd, seeing men with well-sculpted abs and bums dancing along the Session Road wearing a traditional costume at the Panagbenga Festival, seeing my then ultimate crush, Enchong Dee, in person, along with AJ Perez one month before his fatal car accident. 

Come to think of it, those were good days after all. 

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Many have a notion that being fashionable means putting together all the stylish pieces to create that look of the day. While this is true, it's not always the case. Sometimes, all it takes is just one piece to look stylish. Alright, I won't beat around the bush anymore — I'm talking about jumpsuits.

Years ago, I was so into mixing and matching pieces thinking I'll create a fashion statement or something. But lately, I find myself in the pleasure of slipping into a jumpsuit or rompers. This summer staple is no longer for the dry season alone — but for all seasons! 

The Good & The Bad of Wearing Jumpsuits

Jumpsuits are easy to fall in love with, actually. It's breathable, versatile, and classy, and makes effortless dressing so stylish. Perfect for every lazy fashion woman. What I really like about jumpsuits is that I don't have to worry about mixing and matching tops and bottoms. This white jumpsuit from Ever New makes me so excited for days when I have to wear this because it's so simple, easy to style, and very elegant. With a jumpsuit like this, you just need one and you're done!

However, a white jumpsuit like this has its drawbacks, too. There are jumpsuit styles that are too difficult to put on and take off to the point where you don't even know which hole your arm should go to. Another thing is that jumpsuits are more flattering to taller women. But if you're petite like me, there are tricks on how you can make a jumpsuit love you back: wear heels or platforms. Lastly, the thing I hate the most about wearing a jumpsuit is, whenever I'm going to the restroom, it can really be a pain. Imagine, going to a public restroom and you have to take off the whole thing (at least for the top part) for you to pee.

While wearing jumpsuits have disadvantages, those drawbacks don't outweigh the benefits of wearing one. Whether it's summer or not, I will always have a jumpsuit ready. 

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There's a new sartorial trend that's taking the style scene by storm and it's inspired by one of the most popular fashion icons that I'm so sure you know who. Named after Mattel's iconic doll, Barbiecore has been on the radar of every fashionista lately.

But what is Barbiecore anyway?

The Barbiecore fashion trend is anything that follows the fabulous world of Barbie. This style is fun, girly, chic, and classy. And given the resurgence of Y2K fashion that features bright and bold colors, there's no denying that it plays a role in the rise of Barbiecore trend.

How to dress in Barbiecore?

If you really want to pull off this style, you only need one color to make it right — pink! Barbiecore is all about looking pretty in pink. The hotter hue the pink is, the better. Though that's the much-preferred hue, you can also wear other shades of pink such as fuchsia and bubblegum. Other than the color, you must also have these staples to channel the trend: block heels, a sparkling bag, and holographic accessories

My thoughts on the Barbie core trend

It's fantastic! 

Barbie was everything to me when I was a little girl — it was my style icon, my best playdate, my go-to gal, and my dream persona. I remember as a child, I used to write letters to Barbie. Of course, the seven-year-old me thought I was talking to her but it was the Mattel staff, really. They sent me replies to my letters and some cute little pink gifts and Barbie merch. I was so crazy about Barbie that I even dreamed of having a collection one day. I remember those days when I told my dad to bring me a Barbie doll when he goes home after work and those nights that he delivered his promises; I can also vividly remember the times when I fought with my sister because she played with my dolls and ripped my favorite Barbie's head! It was a terrible fight and one of the worst we had. 

Anyway, Barbiecore is something that really tickles every little bone in me. This trend is bold and empowering, and I'm all for it.

To cap this off, Barbiecore is more than just about wearing the right color and pieces. Barbie represents femininity, women empowerment, and dreams. Barbiecore is more than a trend — it also reminds us that any woman can do, can get, and be anything she wants.

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