Tips to Help You Enjoy your Manila Business Trip

Right now, there could potentially be hundreds of really good vacation packages for a trip to the Philippines but it isn’t all the time that you will need to be there for a carefree holiday. If ever you’ll be assigned to go to Manila on a business trip for a moderately long stay, around 5-10 days or more, then make sure to make the most out of your business trip by enjoying what you can of the Philippines.

Here are a couple of tips to get you by:

Insist on being escorted

If you will be on a business trip, try to make arrangements so that your business partner can escort you around or have someone accompany you on your visit. This is especially true if it is going to be your first time visiting the Philippines, especially Manila. Filipinos are naturally kind and caring but, as with any country, there are going to be individuals who are out to take advantage of you, and being escorted by a trusted individual helps you keep safe.

Have a travel plan

Plan what you want to do so that you can ask your business partner if they will be willing to show you around and so that they can give you suggestion on where to go. In any case, the nice places to experience in Manila alone include Intramuros and the surrounding area like the National Museum, Manila Ocean Park, and Luneta Park. But if you’re looking for a more local experience, make sure to visit Quiapo and Divisoria (just be sure to stay safe) where you can find a lot of killer bargains. If you want to go outside Manila, the best places nearby are Batangas, Tagaytay, Pampanga, and Bataan. Some places that you can visit which are a little farther include Cebu, Palawan, and Bohol.

Quiapo during the day. [coconuts.co/manila]

Stay at vacation rentals in the Philippines

If you are going to be staying for a moderately long period in the Philippines, vacation rentals or short term rentals are one good way to go. Hotels are the typical choices to stay at but just as safe are these rental transient accommodations for the cost. It’s easy to look for accommodations that aren’t very expensive but are loaded with the amenities that you will find useful.


Keep in mind weather & clothing

Always keep in mind that the weather and general climate in Philippines is drastically different from ours, so be ready with an arsenal of clothing for different circumstances. Albeit the Philippines is a tropical country, it’s grown to become a country with unpredictable climate patterns and unprecedented weather changes.


Mind Manila Traffic

Lastly, since you’ll be here for business mainly, your time means money. Mind (and to some extent, forgive) the traffic in Manila. It is going to be frustrating if you are caught unawares but big differences can be gotten from just getting on the road half an hour early or scheduling meetings as well as casual tours intuitively. This also begs the need for vacation or short terms rentals in the Philippines as they can be found right in the middle of very busy areas of the Metro or somewhere suburban.

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8 Reasons Why You Should Spend This Year's Summer in Sto. Tomas, Batangas

Investing in a house and lot for sale in Sto. Tomas, Batangas is like experiencing summer all year round. If you’re searching for a place where summer is eternal, moving to this distinct and uncrowded destination is ideal for the quiet, countryside living.

Speaking of summer destinations, the township features several getaways. Its wide array of great finds, will make you book a tour in no time.

A nice place for a summer retreat

Most of their tourism establishments are recreation centers. Time away from the stress of city life can be achieved in the serene resorts and cottages of the municipality.


· Casa Miguel Resort and Country Club

(foursquare.com)

A lot of undiscovered sanctuaries around Sto. Tomas are waiting to be explored and Casa Miguel is one of them. Furnished with a private pool and bahay kubos, this tourist spot is ideal for families who’d like a secluded vacation site. It is situated in Brgy. San Roque.

· Villa Luciana Hall and Resort

(allevents.in)

You don’t have to visit the overly crowded beaches of Batangas to experience its clear waters. Stationed in the small barangay of Sta. Clara, Villa Luciana Resort offers the cool breeze of the province as you enjoy private moments with your loved ones .


Unspoiled Natural Attractions

Six thousand hectares of land in Sto. Tomas is delegated for agriculture. Here are some of its scenic hidden gems:

· Lambingan Station

(juan-day.com)

A part of the eminent Mt. Makiling, Lambingan station is a trekking site where the gateway starts in Sto. Tomas. This campsite is open for the public and is often used as a rest area for hikers. Imagine having this kind of scene in your abode in Pueblo de Oro, Sto. Tomas, Batangas.

· Rio de Kambalyaw

(bit.ly/2l6FiPb)

The ideal places to freshen up after being under the blazing heat of the sun are waterfalls and rivers. These bodies of water are cold even during summer as cool spring water comes up from underground, river water temperature is kept low even during summer heat. Occupying a portion in Brgy. San Isidro, this well-maintained river with a man-made dam is a refreshing site equipped with cottage accommodations.


Gastronomic Destinations

Who would forget the area’s wide selection of gastronomic delights? Sto. Tomas is also home to delightful restaurants.

· Millie’s

(bit.ly/2li9FEl)

The restaurant is a two-story property with artworks adorning its walls. You can choose from a wide collection of international and Filipino cuisines. This all-day dining restaurant is open to Microtel guests and visitors alike. You could avail the buffet or the ala carte meals.



· Rose and Grace Restaurant

(michiphotostory.com)

This diner has been an institution when it comes to serving the best of Batangas to tourists and residents. The best part is: they offer a vast range of Filipino cold treats like halo-halo, buco salad, buco pandan, sago gulaman and black gulaman in syrup perfect for your summer merienda. Try the house special, Bulalo!

Pilgrimage Tours

Sto. Tomas is also known for its historic and religious shrines that are visited mostly during Holy Week.


· St. Thomas Aquinas

(mapio.net)

St. Thomas Aquinas Church went under extreme renovations which makes the church a perfect combination of modern and historic. During summer, devotees flock to the church to offer their devotions and witness its unique architectural design.


· Padre Pio

(philmug.ph)

The national Shrine of Padre Pio has come a long way since its establishment. From what started as a small chapel in San Pedro, the shrine is now most visited during Holy Week by hundreds, even thousands of Catholics around the country. The massive church stands on a 4.1 hectare land.

These wondrous places are some of the reasons why tourists are more than willing to buy a house and lot for sale in Sto. Tomas. There’s nothing more relaxing than living in a community where you feel you are always on vacation.

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Living Room Ideas Perfect For Your House and Lot in Batangas

A world class and eco-friendly tourist destination in the Southern part of Luzon, the colorful province of Batangas is a real estate jewel. One of the reasons why buyers opt for a house and lot for sale in Batangas is because of its accessibility. Its location is bounded on the north by the province of Cavite, on the northeast and east by the province of Laguna and Quezon. Aside from its own wonders, you can explore other points of interest as well.

Buying a house and lot for sale in Batangas is a great way to begin 2017 and what better way to start than decorating your living room? This area welcomes guests and a cozy spot to hold your recreational activities.

Here are seven ideas that could make your living room a little homier:

Playing with colors
Acid Lime

(homedesignlover.com)

Green is In this 2017. Play with the elements of nature by adding wood into the room. A great neutral color like gray is a nice choice to mix with these earthy colors. You can also use Lawson-style couches to create a softer and more cushioned sofa.

Dusky Blue

(beachblissliving.com)

Beach colors are also expected to trend this year. Inspired by the beauty of the water and sky, a touch of dusky blue would bring in the great outdoors of Batangas into your living room. You could pair them with seashell-framed mirrors which cost around 2,000-5,000 pesos. If this is a bit steep, you could make a DIY version.

Mineral Gray

(renoguide.com.au)

Looks like gray is here to stay. Composed colors, like gray, are excellent backdrops for layering and showcasing other colors in furniture and décor, as detailed by BEHR.

Try pairing them with brightly colored throw pillows to accent the neutral colors of your living room in your house and lot in Batangas.

Minimalism

Tan

(homedesignlover.com)

A living room can be made warm and welcoming with lighter shades of yellow and brown. An accurate example of this is tan. Layering beiges creates a soft, calming look; like you're walking into a room made of cashmere. Mix it up with modular furniture and you’ve got an earthy minimalist living room. Modular shelves’ prices range from 1,000 pesos to 7,000.

White

(thekidsm.com)

The secret in pulling off a white living room is to play with texture and the key to play with texture is thru rugs. Fluffy rugs in Lazada are worth 600 pesos to 2,500 pesos. It’s definitely a bang for your buck. You could also try adding citrusy colors like yellow into the mix.

Patterns and Texture

Layered Maximalism

(mydomaine.com)

Minimalism is in this 2017 but who says you can’t have the best of both worlds? A varied but correct mix of layers will give your living room that visual oomph. Throw pillows with different designs are best partnered with neutral wall paints like gray. How about adding some dusky blue couches in there?

Terazzo Flooring

(minimalisti.com)

Terrazzo flooring is a long-known self-leveling floor mosaic, or manufactured on special plates. The material has a glossy surface bursting with colors. The granite chips or pieces of glass and other additives display a perfectly smooth floor in your home and can even imitate the texture of marble or granite. Prices depend on the floor shape and floor area but to get an idea, you could visit this site.

A little tip before buying a house and lot for sale in Batangas: don’t be afraid to go all out when designing your living room! It can be a brilliant way to make that small but essential part in your house pop.

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Marian Orchard in Batangas: Inside a Peaceful Holiday Getaway

(vigattintourism.com)

When buying your new home, you consider a lot of things—it’s a big investment after all. If you want to save yourself the hassle, investing on a house and lot in Batangas would be a smart choice. Why? Aside from the refreshing breeze and peace and quiet, the place is filled with tourist destinations, historical places, cultural sites and heritage parks. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

Batangas is home to several heritage sites. The Taal Heritage Park is one of the province’s treasured destinations but there’s one park that has caught the attention of tourists and Batangueños. Marian Orchard is a sprawling Catholic theme park located in the municipality of Balete, right before the pilgrimage city of Lipa, Batangas. It was started by Lazaro L. Katigbak in the early 90s.

As detailed by Rappler, the architectural style of the Orchard is inspired by religious structures in Europe, especially Roman architecture.

If you’re looking for a serene venue to celebrate the holidays, Marian Orchard is the perfect go-to place to reflect and de-stress. Starting the New Year right? It’s that time of the year to give this place a visit.

Aside from its intricate sculptures and wide array of floras, this retreat park features a chapel, a prayer garden, an observation tower, fountains and shrines of saints. If you love nature and if you want to relax and withdraw from the busy streets of the city, a day here will restore your perspective.


(marian-orchard.ph)


Sculptures of saints permeate the vicinity. They add to the distinctive character of the place.


(marian-orchard.ph)


Here is the photo of the stairs leading to the observation tower. The tower holds the replica of Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer, the largest Art Deco-style sculpture in the world. It’s a bit steep but reaching the top would be well worth it. Just seeing the vibrant colors of flowers bursting is already a sight to see.


(marian-orchard.ph)

The religious site is open to the public. It would be best to visit it at this time of the year because it will be overcrowded during the Holy Week. It can also be a sort of escape, a form of meditation or soul-searching. Wouldn’t you just want to move in a house and lot in Batangas and be near a spiritual place like this while savoring the beauty and serenity of nature?

Here are two ways to get to the Marian Orchard:

How to get there by bus: From EDSA (usual starting point is Cubao) or Buendia, take a bus to Lemery, Batangas via Tanauan/Lipa (not CALABARZON). Ask the driver to drop you off at Levitown, then from there take a tricycle to Marian Orchard.

How to get there by car: Drive thru SLEX and on to Batangas Star Tollway then take Lipa-Tambo Exit. Turn right and follow the J.P. Laurel Highway going to Lipa/Tanauan. Turn left at Lipa-Balete Road. The Marian Orchard is just a 10-15 minute drive from the Caltex Gas Station.

The pilgrimage slash tourist site is approximately 3 hours away from Metro Manila. Residents of Batangas are charged with 25 pesos while non-residents are charged with 50 pesos. It’s a pretty cheap getaway, right?

If you constantly want to be surrounded with wonders such as this, a house and lot for sale in Batangas is a good choice. Living in this multi-faceted province is an everyday adventure.

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Masasa Beach: Tingloy, Batangas’ Hidden Paradise

(Facebook / Masasa Beach)


Due to its rich tourist destinations, people have been flocking and buying house and lots for sale in Batangas. It’s more than just the view—it’s the culture, the food and the fresh breeze and, of course, the enthralling waters. Who wouldn’t want to live here?

With Batangas’ multitude of panoramic beaches, Masasa Beach is one that rose above the rest. It is located along the southern part of Batangas. The municipality of Tingloy is quite far from your usual trip in the province but it is well worth it once you see the fine sand and clear waters.


How to get there

(Facebook / Masasa Beach)


Jam Liner buses bound to Batangas Pier can be found at Buendia-Taft terminal. Once you are dropped off at the Batangas terminal, you can ride a jeepney bound for Anilao. You will then be dropped off at Talaga port. Ask for a boat ride to Tingloy Island. Once you reach the island, you can hop on a tricycle ride going to Masasa beach.

What to do in Batangas’ Hidden Gem

Purchasing a house and lot for sale in Batangas would be a pretty sweet deal if you’re trying to further dissect Batangas’ hidden treasures. Although the province has been subject to numerous developments, there are still untouched oases in the area and one of which is the unspoiled beach of Tingloy.

Masasa is a perfect destination for laid back tourists with its secluded location and serene waters. Relaxing under the sun and taking a dip in the beach are just some of the fun activities to engage in. Endless selfies await you with the backdrop of a beautiful sunset.

There are rocky parts but these are avoidable. You can also snorkel. The fun doesn’t end there. Near the beach is Mt. Mag-Asawang Bato, where you can go for a hike. The two monoliths look like a couple leaning against each other, thus, the name.


(bit.ly/2h0a0az)

Where to stay

If you’re feeling a little campy, you can pitch a tent along the shores of the beach but be fully responsible and observe the “Leave No Trace” rule. If you fear the creepy crawlies at night, you can rent at Aling Rosie’s Bahay Kubo. It costs around 600 PHP and you can rent the whole kubo with 4 rooms and 2 bathrooms.


(bit.ly/2gKgE6D)

The pristine character of Masasa Beach will make you come back for more. The undiscovered territory is just approximately three hours away from Metro Manila. If you’d like to turn your staycation into a permanent sojourn, buy that house and lot for sale in Batangas. Aside from the peace and quiet, nature’s wonders are well within your reach.

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