Michi Photostory

My husband was back in Cebu last week, last year he stayed in Cebu City Marriott Hotel but this hotel is now under renovation and soon it will be named Seda Hotel. And because of that, he stayed at Cebu Parklane International Hotel. During their first night, they ate dinner at Isla Sugbu Seafood City and while waiting for their order, he sent me some pictures. And I asked myself, “Bakit hindi ko alam ito?” How I wish I knew this restaurant when we went to Cebu almost two years ago.

Read: Isla Sugbu Seafood City Venice Piazza


Cebu is famous for Sutukil and they have a lot of restaurants that offer this 3-way style of cooking seafood. Su for sugba (Grill), Tu for tuwa (stew) and Kil for kilaw (raw seafood with vinegar). During our trip, we ate at The Original AA BBQ in Lahug branch but you need to pay per order but Isla Sugbu Seafood City is “Paluto All You Can”. So you can enjoy unlimited and fresh seafood for P749.

Read: Where to Eat in Cebu



This restaurant reminds me of our experience in Kota Kinabalu Malaysia pero itong sa Cebu, level-up. Just look at the interiors and may aircon pa. According to my husband, from the entrance, there are already wait-staffs who will guide you. This staff will usher you to the aquarium and counter, where you can select and choose your seafood. Instruct them on how do you want to cook your food, grill, stew or kilaw?


The meat, vegetables, fresh and live fish, and crustacean vary per day, it depends on their catch. Yes, the restaurant does not only offer seafood, you can also eat meat, vegetables, and dessert. Drinks, desserts and premium seafood like tiger and bamboo lobsters, mud and king crabs, sea mantis, grouper, and stonefish are charged separately.





The food will be served on your table, make sure that you can finish your order because if there are leftovers, you need to pay P1450. All paluto meals cannot be taken out. My husband was busy eating his meal so I have no more pictures of the cooked meals aside from the shrimp.


If you are not a fan of buffet meals, you can also choose from their SUTUKIL packages. They offer 4 Sutukil Packages, from Package A to Package D, each package includes appetizer, dish of the day and rice platter for P1600 nett good for 4 persons.

This Seafood City restaurant is walking distance from Cebu Parklane International Hotel. Hubby said na worth it daw sa price so  If ever I will go back to Cebu, I will definitely try this restaurant.

Read: Cebu's Lechon

Isla Sugbu Seafood City Rates 

Adult P749 Leftover Rate P1450
5 yrs old - FREE
6 - 11 yrs old - 50% off
Plus Service Charge

Update: October 2018

My husband went back to Cebu last October. It was only an overnight trip so he did not waste his opportunity to eat at Isla Sugbu Seafood City. From P749, the rate is now P779 plus service charge. Mukhang nasulit naman niya ang rate sa dami ng kinain niya, I was shookt when I saw these photos, paano kaya niya naubos? :)







* Diners can avail Paluto All You Can promo for a discounted promo price of P779 per head (Original Price is P1200) from July 26, 2018 to October 26, 2018.

Opening Hours
Lunch 11AM - 2PM
Dinner 6PM - 10PM

Open from Monday to Sunday

Isla Sugbu Seafood City
Ground Floor, Grand Convention Center Of Cebu Archbishop
Reyes Avenue, Cebu City 600

P.S. May Isla Sugbu Seafood City Mckinley Branch na 
Read: Isla Sugbu Seafood City Paluto All You Can at Venice Piazza

My son celebrated his 8th birthday at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel and had a blast. If you still remember my post, he mentioned that we need to visit other Shangri-la hotels so he can earn more badges. So when I saw the Wonderful Weekends Promo of Makati Shangri-la, I immediately bookmarked it. I asked him if he wanted to spend his 9th birthday at Shangri-la and he said yes. 


Since my husband has an erratic schedule we did not book early. Five days before our trip, my husband called the hotel and was advised that there was no promo rate due to high occupancy. We already promised our son that we would spend his birthday in Shangri-la so we still booked the wonderful weekend at regular rate kahit mabigat sa bulsa.  



When I received the confirmation, I immediately read the details and I saw the registration link. When we stayed in EDSA Shangri-la, we just registered on the day of our stay but in Makati Shangri-la, there is a link where you need to register. There are FREE activities for kids and adults. 

For 4-12 years old kids. 

1. Cookie Decorating Class 
2. Cupcake Decorating Class 
3. Wonderful Weekend Collage 

For Adults 

1. Yoga 
2. Definition Bootcamp 
3. Core and Body Conditioning 
4. Spinning 
5. Zumba

I only registered for my son. My husband and I did not want to do any activity kasi staycation nga, papagurin ko pa ba sarili ko. Lol But if you ask me now, I will join one activity because it is one of my goals this year, “to be fit and healthy”. If you have the budget, you can also register their PAID activities like Wine Tasting and Date Night at Sage Bespoke Grill. 


Fast forward to our trip, we were there as early as 9AM. If you stay in Shangri-la, make sure you have enough budget or credit limit because I noticed that the deposit amount is x2 of the room rate. Check-in time is 10AM but they gave us our room key as early as 9:15AM so when we went to our room, wala pa yung welcome fruits. Hinabol na lang. 



While checking the room, I saw the note “Makati Shangri-la’s Ballroom will be the venue of local TV network’s annual ball”. Now I know, why there are a high occupancy and no promo rate, wrong timing pala ang pag-book namin, nandun ang mga celebrities. 

Watch the video here. 


Here is the Deluxe room, there is Tipi tent that is too small for us so pangbata lang talaga siya. Sa liit kong ito, masikip siya sa akin or mali yata pagkabuild because I saw some pictures kasya pati daddy e. 

The mini fridge is so cute, ang sarap iuwi but you can only take home the snacks and drinks. There is a separate mini bar for adults but of course, you need to pay for the drinks and snacks. 




We liked the bathroom because there is bathtub + bath salt. +1 lagi pang may bathtub ang bathroom. There is a bidet and emergency phone inside the bathroom. They also have room slippers for the kids but it is too small for my son. 



The hotel is just a few minutes walk from Glorietta so we had our lunch there. After lunch, we went to the pool. There are two swimming pools, one for adult and one for kids. There is no one assisting us so we went to the staff to ask for towels. When we experienced that, I remember what my friend said, “Ayoko sa Makati Shangri-la, di okay ang service dun, nagkakandarapa sila sa pag-asikaso sa foreigner pero sa amin, hindi man lang mabigyan ng towel”. I was sad to hear about his experience but I was thinking baka isolated incident lang yun but I was wrong, it happened to us. 



It is true that nobody cares to give us towels, kami pa lalapit pero kapag foreigner and celebrities ang dumating. Super asikaso, may bitbit na agad na towel and iaassist pa sa pagkuha ng beddings at aayusin ang pwesto nila bago umupo o humiga. We went to the pool twice and kami talaga lumalapit sa staff. May discrimination ba? We did not experience that in Shangri-la Mactan and EDSA Shangri-la, once the staffs see you they will immediately give you a towel, sa Mactan nga maski lilipat kami ng pwesto, mag-offer pa sila na buhatin bitbit mo sa lilipatan mo. 



Anyway, let’s move on. My son attended the activities for kids, there are only 3 activities unlike in EDSA Shangri-la na 9 activities ang meron. The class started late because they did not know where are they going to hold the class. Maybe because of the Star Magic Ball, nagkagulo na sa venue. My son ate the cupcake that he designed, buti na lang nakunan ko pa. But the staff was generous to give him another cupcake. 

After the class, we went back to our room. We have P1,200 F&B credit so we decided to eat our dinner in the hotel, box office din kasi pila sa elevator sa dami ng artista. We ordered as early as 5:30PM and we were advised that it would take 45 minutes and we said okay. Forty-five minutes came and no food yet, so we followed up. After numerous follow-ups, our food came at 7:17PM. Almost two hours of waiting and when you check the food, kulang sa presentation yung sinigang. Take note, the hotel’s foods and drinks are not cheap pero ito na yun. 


While eating, the doorbell rang and they gave us a complimentary cake for my son. When my husband reserved the room, the staff asked him kung may occasion daw ba? And he said, yes, my son’s birthday, why? The staff said, "surprise na lang daw". They totally forgot about the birthday surprise for my son, naremind lang sila nung may nakausap na supervisor si hubby and tinanong siya kung may problem ba. Of course, he said "wala pa yung dinner namin and namention niya na may birthday surprise daw pero wala pala". Then after a few minutes, dumating na ang dinner and cake. Thank you! 


The following morning, we woke up early so we could eat our complimentary buffet breakfast at Circles. They have a buffet corner for kids but more on sweets. As expected, they offer a sumptuous buffet spread, and they have different stations that serve different flavors and cuisines. Of course, I chose Filipino cuisine. 



We had our lunch outside and when we went back to the hotel, my husband called me “Hon, bilisan mo si Daniel Matsunaga pauwi na”. I’ve been seeing a lot of celebrities in the hallway, pool, lobby, restaurant, and elevator. As in everywhere, we go, meron artista pero deadma lang. Pero iba pala pag crush mo so nagpapicture ako. Ang hirap pala magpicture sa artista, mabilisan. Good thing, dalawang pindot asawa ko kung hindi blurred ang kuha. Hehehe! Si Jericho Rosales lang talaga ang di ko naabutan, nagkakasalisi kami. 

Anyway, my son joined the last activity before we check-out. We took home the cookies that he designed, I forgot the flavor but it was yummy. 


It took me a long time to blog about our staycation because I was a little bit disappointed with the service. The service was not that bad but since we tried other Shangri-la hotels we are expecting Shangri-la hospitality. We are expecting that they will serve and treat all guests equally and they will make sure that your stay will be worth it. 

Read: Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa 
EDSA Shangri-la Hotel 
Shangri-la Hotel Jakarta 

Wonderful Weekend Inclusions 

- buffet breakfast for two adults and two kids under 12 years old. 
- F&B credit worth P1,200 nett per day (cumulative and non-refundable) 
- one set of complimentary weekend minibar for kids 
- tipi tent play area for kids inside the room 
- confirmed early check-in at 10AM 
- late check-out at 4PM 
- access to kid’s activities within the hotel. 
- second room for the same family at fifty percent discount.

I was in Southwoods Mall last week and while looking for a restaurant, I saw Mumuso. We are all familiar with Miniso and Daiso which a popular store in Japan but now we also have Mumuso which is from South Korea. 



Mumuso means Hibiscus Life, it is a national flower of the Republic of Korea. Just like the two stores, Mumuso offers affordable quality products. So far they have 23 branches around the Philippines and I’m so glad they have a branch near our place which is Southwoods Mall.



The store in Southwoods Mall is not that big but it offers different products that you might like such as bags, wallet, organizer, toys, notebook, and even beauty products. I wasn’t able to take some pictures because I’m busy checking their cute products. I have no plans to shop pero napabili pa rin ko, I just bought the things that we need in the house. 

Volcanic Soil Refreshing Blackhead Removing Pore Strip P99 
50 Individual Packed Teeth Floss P99 
Blue Cotton Stick (Pointed + Round Head) P129 
Korean Solid Color Bow Hairband P99 

I bought two pieces of 3-step Blackhead Remover Nose Strip at Althea Korea but my husband prefers the Nose Strip, yung wala ng step 1, 2 and 3. Step 2 na agad, hehehe! Which is actually good because it is much cheaper. The 3 steps nose strip is around P60 to P80 per pack (one time use only), yung nabili ko na pore strip P99 lang, marami na. Before, sa Watsons ako nakakabili nito.

I also bought packed teeth floss and blue cotton stick, I like the cotton buds because it is a combination of a pointed and round head. I think this is expensive for P129, feeling ko mas mura sa grocery, though rounded lang meron. The bowknot hair band, I got this because cute and I feel that I need this. Then when I got home, parang namahalan na ko sa P99. hehehe! Anyway, according to the packaging, I can use this Bowknot Hair Band when 

1. Washing my face or doing my makeup 
2. Doing sports and yoga 
3. Put a mask on face 
4. Read and learn 

You have to pay for the shopping bag if you want an extra bag.

Update (April 2018)

I was back in Southwoods Mall and I bought some stuff for our upcoming travel. I bought cellphone ring (P99) and Vaccum Flask for (P479)



Mumuso  
Southwoods Store Biñan, Laguna

Update: June 10, 2018

I went back to Mumuso and bought Vaccum Flask P399 and Glass Container P199 for my son and the following day, my husband showed me this video. The video claimed that Mumuso is not from Korea but China. Some beauty products are imitations of some popular brand. It so sad to know this information because all along, I thought this is a Korean store. I felt deceived. :(

I was out last Friday because my friends’ daughters were part of Matilda play in their school so they invited us to watch. I told them that I can only watch the morning schedule because I need to be home before my son’s class dismissal. Good thing, there are still available tickets. So my friend and I went to their school as early as 8:30AM and we left immediately because we were going to our kids’ school din.

We just received a letter that we need to pay Field Trip fee. Actually, I was surprised that I need to pay the fee because for the last three years, kasama na yung Educational Trip sa tuition so I immediately checked the schedule of school fees and wala nga dun yung field trip. Waah! There was an additional 15% increase this school year tapos wala pa field trip fee. Then, due date na agad ang bayad in 5 days. Anyway, wala rin naman ko magagawa kundi magbayad because my son wanted to join the Field Trip. Kung ako lang, hindi ko na siya pasasamahin kasi ang panget ng pupuntahan nila. hehehe!

Buffalo Wings N' Things


After that, we went to Southwoods Mall to eat our lunch. This mall started operating last September 30, 2017 but it was only last Friday that I was able to visit this place. I told my friend na dumaan kami dito kasi hindi pa ko nakakapunta and she gladly agreed with me.

We were checking all the restaurants in the mall and I suggested Buffalo Wings N’ Things because it’s been years since the last time I ate here. You can check my review here and here. I browsed their menu but I ended up ordering my usual order which is Garlic Parmesan Cheese Chicken and NY Cheesecake Ice Cream P99. They have Lunch Special Promo that time so 6pcs of Garlic Parmesan Cheese + Steamed Rice is only P149. Last time, fries ang kasama nung chicken but now, additional fee if you want fries. Anyway, my friend ordered Garlic Parmesan Cheese Chicken P149 and Chicken Quesadilla P189. 




We enjoyed our food but when it comes to bill out, ang tagal namin naghintay maybe because there are a lot of customers and isa lang ang staff na nagtake ng order, serve and pati sa bill-out. I hope they will hire additional staff. :)

Anyway, I noticed the “Hukad” tarpaulin at Southwoods Mall so if you live or if you’ve been to Cebu, you knew this restaurant. We tried this restaurant when we went to Cebu two years ago and I will try this again pag-open na.

Read: Hukad by Golden Cowrie 

The mention of Dominican Republic conjures up images of powdery white beaches and warm blue waters. It is just the ideal destination to head for a vacation with your children. What makes the Dominican Republic simply perfect is a family beach vacation. There are homes for rent in Dominican Republic as well as all-inclusive resorts at affordable price points. One can look forward to nightly entertainment, kid’s clubs and multiple restaurants along with a range of activities and watersports. The finest outdoor playground of the Caribbean is simply a picture-perfect vacation for families on a budget. 

As one of the best kid-friendly destination, the Dominican Republic boasts of beautiful beaches and lush tropical landscapes. Just two hours south of Miami, the relaxing Caribbean getaway offers cultural outings, water sports, and all-inclusive resorts. There are miles and miles of coastline overlooking the Caribbean Sea, rainforests, National Parks and cacti-studded deserts. 

Here are the 10 most popular spots for families on vacation with kids. 



1. Pico Duarte is the tallest point in the Caribbean as it rises more than 10,100 feet. The highest mountain in all of the Caribbean Islands is made of uplifted rocks and is covered with cool pine forest and ferns. Located in the Cordillera Central, one can indeed take a cool break from the heat of the tropics of the Caribbean in Pico Duarte. Several routes are available for hikes and trekking. La Ciénaga Route is one of the most popular routes and is not difficult at all. La Pelona, only two meters lower is a twin summit of Pico Duarte. 

2. Lake Enriquillo is the deepest point in the Caribbean, and it falls 131 feet below sea level, and lies to the south are the Sierra de Neiba. Water flowing off the Neiba drains to saline Lake Enriquillo, which is the largest natural lake. The secluded and picturesque place is popular among the tourists and is the only habitat of the American crocodile. There are natural reefs and natural springs of curative sulfur as well as an astounding variety of wildlife near the lake. 

3. Puerto Plata towards the North Coast is a historic seaport. Christopher Columbus called it as the "port of silver" during his 1492 voyage because of the glistening silver color of the coast takes on during the sunset. The seaside city has been catering to the ships carrying goods ever since ancient times and offers spectacular beaches. Explore the majestic colonial architecture or enjoy breathtaking views atop Mount Isabel de Torres with your family. 

4. Cabarate is a small village that lies east of Puerto Plata. The fishing and farming hamlet has become a popular sports capital of the country. The grown-up beach town area is booming with condos and new development and is an ideal spot to base yourself. Enjoy surfing, or windsurfing, or kitesurfing as well as get a great dining and shopping experience. 

5. Get a beach-oriented family break in Dreams Palm Beach. There are miles and miles of fantastic, white-sand beaches. Children can enjoy their clubs and other fun activities like kayaking in the reef-protected section of beach. There is excellent food in a wide choice of restaurants as well as some great movies to enjoy while relaxing on the sand. 

6. Playa Rincón is simply perfect with its soft, white sands and multihued water. There's a small rivulet at the far western end, and it is indeed great to take a quick freshwater dip. Enjoy great swimming across the uninterrupted stretches of the beach in calm waters. It is indeed a great spot to spend the entire day with your family, simply lazing around and picnicking. 

7. Punta Cana is another most popular destination, and millions of bodies can find their own space and place amidst the expansive beach with countless palm trees. Hundreds and thousands of tourists arrive here during the winter months. The best part is that one can holiday here on a budget, enjoy excellent accommodations and all the food and drink plus the water sports. 

8. Samaná is a first-class premium of Dominican-Caribbean dream. Much more cosmopolitan and far more laid-back, there is a strong European vibe here. Tourists and travelers come here majorly for North Atlantic humpback whales from mid-January to mid-March. The whales do their migratory song and dance. You will love the lively social scene as well as the best and most secluded beaches here. 

9. Montaña Redonda, with its dramatic mountaintop viewpoint id perfect for a weekend getaway. You can take photos as you swing in sky-high swing sets and jaw-dropping sea views. After the horse rides and zip lining, enjoy some great food at the local restaurants. 

10. Centro León, the large, modern museum is loved by all the families. The world-class institution boasts of an impressive collection of paintings that showcase the evolution of Dominican art from the 20th century. The three exhibition rooms focus on the island’s biodiversity, its history and cultural diversity, Dominican art; and aviary and photography exhibition.

The above are just a few of the offerings from the one of the Caribbean's most geographically diverse countries. It is hard to ignore the evocative colonial architecture, the stunning mountain scenery and the beaches galore. Plan a great trip here with your family and come back with some great memories. You will surely love it and your kids will have precious new lifetime adventures to talk about back home.

I’ve been buying Korean Beauty Products since September and so far I’m happy with all my orders. I find joy in discovering new beauty products and most of all, I can buy those products at a discounted price.

Boomdeahdah means “We love the whole world”, this is one of my favorite brand in Althea Korea site because their products are budget-friendly. So far, I already tried the Rose Body Lotion and 8 variants of their facial mask. You can check my review here and here.


A few weeks ago, I saw the Boomdeahdah Set for P300 and I immediately added this to my cart. I am satisfied with their product so I reorder. The set includes

1 Lemon Lime Facial Mask
1 Pomegranate Facial Mask
1 Rice Facial Mask
1 Berry Facial Mask
1 Honey Facial Mask
1 Rose Body Lotion
1 Water Drop Hand Cream Lotus

Yes, a total of 7 products for P300. Check the product description below.

Boomdeahdah Rose Body Lotion - contained Rosa Damascena Flower Extract that makes the skin texture smooth by providing rich nutrition.
Boomdeahdah Water Drop Hand Cream Lotus - a hand cream with water drop type that makes your skin smooth without stickiness.
Boomdeahdah Facial Mask Lemon - Lime - Brightening - Lemon extract and lime extract deliver vitamins and moisture to seriously dry skin to keep it moisturized and fair.
Boomdeahdah Facial Mask Rice - Brightening - It contains rice bran extract and sweet almond extract so as to make dull skin fair and healthy.
Boomdeahdah Facial Mask Berry - Firming - Containing strawberry extract, blueberry extract, and raspberry extract. It makes dull skin fair, transparently clean, and youthful.
Boomdeahdah Facial Mask Pomegranate - Firming - It contains pomegranate extract and patented natural vegetable extract in order to soothe exhausted skin from the external environment and to keep it smooth.
Boomdeahdah Facial Mask Honey - Nourishing - It contains propolis extract, royal jelly extract, and honey extract to nourish and tighten rough-textured, dry skin.

Among the set, it was my first time to try the Boomdeahdah Water Drop Hand Cream Lotus. Honestly, I’m not fond of applying lotion or cream on my hands, nalalagkitan kasi ko so hand sanitizer lang lagi ako. And of course, I always do household chores so feeling ko sayang lang yung cream.


But after using the water drop hand cream lotus, it changed my mind. I find this product so amazing because from its name, nagiging water droplets talaga yung cream. It is not sticky, not greasy and I like the smell of it. So now, I’m using it after washing dishes, it makes my skin moisturize and soft. I’m not sure about the brightening effect yet because more than a week ko pa lang natry. But definitely, I will buy this again.

Read: My First Shopping at Althea Korea 

Update September 30, 2019:  We went to Nuvali and I noticed that this restaurant was already closed. 

We went to Solenad last weekend so we can check the local products at Tienda Sa Ayala Malls. After buying some local products, we decided to have an early lunch in Nuvali. There are so many restaurants in Nuvali, you can choose from Solenad 1, 2 and 3. But since we are in Solenad 3, we checked the restaurants that we haven’t tried yet. As far as I can remember, we only tried Peri-Peri Charcoal Chicken and Sauce Bar, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka and of course Kuya J.  



We were looking for one restaurant so before we entered the building, we asked the guard for directions and he said “Ay sir, dun yan sa kabila, “The Farm Organics” lang nandito. So my husband and I contemplated kung lalakad pa ba kami or magFarm Organics na lang kami. Of course, tinamad na kami maglakad so we entered the building and went straight to the restaurant. 

The Farm Organics 

As we all know, not all products that we see in the market are all natural or organic. If we ever see natural or organic products, it is too expensive. In 2010, Tom and Tanya decided to turn their ranch into organic livestock farm and it was certified organic by the OCCP in 2011. They started selling their products in the supermarket and now they also have different restaurants where you can try their organic beef.



The Farm Organics offers certified organic grass-fed beef from their farm in Masbate. Not only that, they make sure that the ingredients that they use in their soups, salads, and dressings are fresh and high quality. They are using organic eggs too. 

What is Organic?

1. Free-range or pasture-raised livestock that are antibiotic and growth hormones free. They produce organic meat poultry, eggs, and dairy.
2. Organic produce is non-genetically modified crops which are grown without pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

We ate at “The Farm Organics” before, they have a branch in Twin Lakes Tagaytay. But at that time, we took advantage their buffet meals from 10-7PM. But here in Solenad 3 branch, I did not see the buffet package so we checked their a la carte menu. 

Read: The Farm Organics Twin Lakes Tagaytay

We were still full from our binatog and corn with butter and cheese morning snack so we just ordered Farm Salad P340, 1 Local All-Natural Burger Steak P190 and 2 orders of Local All-Natural New York Steak at P490 each. 



My husband and in-laws enjoyed the Farm Salad. I did not try it, alam niyo naman hindi ako mahilig sa raw vegetables. Hehehe! 



My husband ordered the Burger Steak and he liked it and according to him, the burger patty is very juicy. 



My son and I ordered the New York Steak, share na lang kami but when I saw the meal. Good for one person lang pala yung beef, malayo sa picture sa menu. Mas maliit in real life. Hehehe! Good thing busog pa kami sa binatog so hindi naman kami nabitin. The meal includes one cup of rice or farm bread and mushroom gravy. The steak is good, though nadisappoint lang ko sa size. My husband teased me, sana nagburger steak ka na lang. Me: Oo nga, mas mura pa. hehehe!

So if you are into, healthy living, healthy diet or looking for a new restaurant, The Farm Organics is a good try. #healthierthanmost 

The Farm Organics 
G/F Cinema Bldg. 
Solenad 3, Nuvali 
Sta. Rosa Laguna

Other branches are in Alabang Hills, Commercenter Mall, BGC and Twin Lakes Tagaytay