July 06, 2014

Day Trip in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar

Update: June 2023 

After almost a decade, we went back to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar but this time, we had an overnight stay. You can check the links below for my updated review and rates. 



Heritage Day Tour Rate 

PHP2,500 (Monday to Friday) 
PHP2,900 (Weekends, Holidays and Peak Dates) 

Inclusions: 

Entrance Fee and Use of Beach Area 
30 mins to 1 Hour Walking Guided Tour; Kalesa Ride 
Hotel de Oriente Viewing, Balsa River Cruise 
Set lunch at HDO Binondo Hall, all taxes and fees 

Walking Heritage Tour Schedule: 8:30AM, 10:30AM, 2:30PM and 4:30PM 
*Allowed time to stay inside the resort is from 8AM to 6PM only

***

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is in my bucket list but because I live in South Luzon, it is not on my priority list. My friend invited us to attend his son’s 7th Birthday in Bataan since it is too far from Cavite, I suggested to my husband that we stay in Las Casas para di pagod. 

 I emailed Las Casas but they replied, “please call to reserve” so my husband called, and unfortunately, no more Studio De Luxe rooms are available. We don’t want to book other rooms because PHP4,050 room rate is already steep for us and the next lowest available room is P5,850. 

We decided to have a day trip instead, we left Cavite around 4AM so we still have enough time na mamasyal before attending the birthday party at 3PM. I posted here our sidetrip “Bataan Road Trip” before going to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Resort. 

 Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is a heritage park or heritage resort in Bagac, Bataan. It is owned by Jose Rizalino “Jerry” Acuzar who is an art collector and architect. Jerry aimed to showcase cultural heritage through the restoration of the houses.
At the gate, the guard gave us an entry pass to be given in the reception area. I was thankful that my son is still free.

 Day Trip Entrance Fee of Las Casa Filipinas de Acuzar

 Day Trip Rate

 Package 1 (set meal) P1,200 nett per person
Package 2 (buffet meal) P1,500 nett per person
A guaranteed minimum of 30 persons is required to avail of the buffet arrangement.

 Inclusions:

 Welcome Drinks
30-minute to 1-hour Guided Tour of Heritage Houses
Entrance Fee and Use of Beach Area
1 Lunch, Afternoon Snack, 2 Tetra Pack Juices, 2 Bottles of Mineral Water
Vicinity Map
All Taxes and Service Charge

 Other Options:

 Option 1: Entrance Fee with Snacks

 P850 - adult
P425 - kids

 Option 2: Entrance Fee Only

 P685 - adult and 5 years old and above
FREE - toddlers

 Upon entering the Heritage Park, you will feel that you’ve been transported in the past. It is really nice to see how big and beautiful the old houses compared to the trend now. 

We were a few minutes late for the Heritage Tour but we don’t want to waste our time waiting for the next schedule so we asked them if pwede pa humabol and they gladly assisted us to locate the tour guide. 

 Schedule of Heritage Tour 

 8:30 AM
9:30 AM
10:30 AM
11:30AM

 1:30 PM
2:30 PM
3:30 PM
4:30 PM

The Heritage Tour is a guided walking tour around the Heritage Park showcasing the cultural and historical background of every single heritage house. After seeing the before and after photos, I was really amazed at how they were able to restore the houses. Check the photos.










After the tour, we ate our lunch at “Casa Unisan” and ordered the set meal at PHP432. It includes soup, a main course, dessert, and drinks. The taste is good.  

Like 

 1. I like the idea of a Heritage Tour because you will learn a lot. There are more information that you will know that is not written in History school books. 

2. I’ve been to Calle Crisologo in Vigan but I think this is much better because you can visit more heritage houses. It is like a one-stop shop that showcases different houses around the Philippines. 

 3. Service is good.

 Dislike 

 1. I emailed them to reserve a room but they replied “Please call to reserve”. What is the use of this email reserve@lascasasfilipinas.com if you can’t reserve via email? 

 2. I paid PHP685 for the tour, welcome drinks, and beach use only. There is a swimming pool but only check-in guests can use it. If you want to ride a calesa or golf cart there’s a fee for that.

3. My son is free of charge so no welcome drinks also but in Villa Escudero even if the guest is FOC, he/she has a welcome drink and buffet lunch.  

4. We wanted to take a bath before attending the birthday party but after seeing the bathroom, wag na lang. I'm not picky but the bathroom has no lock (broken) so how can I take a bath with an open door and I don’t know where to put my bag. I hope they will have a decent bathroom for day-trip guests.

Bathroom

Note: We went there in April 2014 so it was really hot. There’s not enough shade so it is better to bring an umbrella, cap, drinks and extra clothes. 

 Every time you enter a heritage house, you have to remove your slippers or shoes so better wear footwear na madali alisin at isuot.  

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar 
Bo. Pagasa, Bagac, Bataan
+63 2 332 5338 +63 2 332 5286 
E-mail: reserve@lascasasfilipinas.com 
http://lascasasfilipinas.com Klook.com
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July 04, 2014

DIY Baby Shower

Baby Shower is a way to celebrate the approaching birth of a child where the expectant mother is showered with gifts. It is traditionally given to the first child of the family but nowadays parents experience more than one baby shower. Sadly to say, I’m not one of those parents because I did not experience any baby shower, I don’t have friends. Hehehe! 

 When I was pregnant, I was planning for my own baby shower because I know that my friends will not plan something for me. I did not have bridal shower nga so baby shower pa. Lol But it did not happen because I had Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy aka PUPPP but that’s another story. 

Moving on, when my son started going to school. I met moms who are also full time mothers like me and we became friends. One of our mommy friend got pregnant so we decided to throw a baby shower. 

I asked my pregnant friend for her available schedule so we set the date, time and place. Like I said, I did not experience any baby shower so I have to research and research. It is like planning for my own baby shower. We’re only 8 moms in our group so I have to plan and prepare everything para naman may “element of surprise” pa. I sent a digital photo invitation and informed them that the event is potluck. 
One of my friend made this diaper stroller

 Sharing to you the things that I’ve prepared

 1. Invitation 



2. Guest Page - I used the extra page from the banner 

 3. Banner 


4. Games - I prepared Guess the Baby Picture, Baby Trivia, Bingo Game and Bottle Chugging.

I asked my friends for their baby pictures so I can print it but unfortunately not all have their own baby picture. 







5.Wishes for the baby 


6. Giveaways 

I was thankful that there are free baby shower printables so planning and preparing for a baby shower was not difficult. My pregnant friend offered to buy prizes for games. 

 For my potluck, I brought Amira’s Buco Tart. 

Baby Shower Printable Sources:

 Baby Shower Printable Set
Baby Trivia  
Baby Bingo 
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July 02, 2014

Munchpunch VIP Membership

Our family loves to eat and if we want to try something new, I always search online for reviews and recommendations. I read different food blogs and food websites. One of the websites that I like to check is Munchpunch, I do check the menu, price and location of restaurant but little did I know that Munchpunch offers VIP membership. 

I had an offer to try Munchpunch VIP membership last May. I signed up and immediately browse the VIP menu. VIP members can get freebies and perks at over 150 locations. You can simplify your search by using the tab buttons, I always use the location tab because I live in Cavite and my nearest location is Muntinlupa. 

How it Works? 

 1. Browse the VIP menu and pick an item.

2. Click Get Code and wait for the text message. 

3. Show the text message code to staff upon ordering the VIP item at the restaurant. 

I’ve been getting code from different restaurant but because we're so busy as a bee, we were not able to redeem it. We’re supposed to try this Buy 1 Take 1 promo of Cafe Eight at Crimson’s Hotel but there was sudden change of plan.
Birthday Celebration sana
Anyway, if you want to be a VIP member of Munchpunch you can register for free. The free trial is good for 15 days only but if you want to extend the membership, you can renew it for P299 for 60 days. You can pay via paypal, credit card or cash at any 7-11 store.
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June 29, 2014

Dinner at La Fiesta: A Taste of Filipino

Philippines is known for Fiesta, we do celebrate Fiesta in different provinces and cities. There are provinces who are really famous in their festivals like Cebu, Quezon, Bacolod and many more. Filipinos love Fiesta and even I’m not a Catholic I love fiesta because Fiesta = Tons of food. I always look forward attending Fiesta because I could taste a lot of dishes for free. Oh yes, an eat all you can event. 

 Update 2018: Lunch at La Fiesta 

Who doesn’t love eat all you can or buffet? I personally love buffet, it is something I look forward every time we have hotel staycation. Buffet restaurant is also my choice if we have a celebration and get together. You can see here and here the hotel and restaurant buffet that we have tried. 
Buffet = No Leftover and No Diet 

Do you know that there’s new buffet restaurant in SM by the Bay Mall of Asia? La Fiesta Restaurant is the "Largest Filipino Buffet" with over 200 dishes and as of this writing, they are now open on its second week. From its name, expect that they serve Filipino dishes originated from different Fiestas all over the country. 

I received an invitation to try La Fiesta last week. If you’ve been reading this blog for quite some time now, you know that I don’t usually attend blog events because of my location and most events fall on weekdays but when I’ve read that I can visit on my preferred date and time, I gladly accepted it.


Yesterday, we drove all the way to Mall of Asia. You won’t get lost because the La Fiesta restaurant is just beside the MOA Eye. We were there past 5PM and I asked the staff if my son is still free or not, we went inside the restaurant to check my son’s height and I was glad because he is still free. The children rate is based on height.


At 5:30 they opened the restaurant and started calling the name on the reservation list. The place is huge measures 1200sqm with 150 tables and 500 seats so they can really accommodate a good number of guests.

We did not waste time anymore and we started checking the food station, I guess they have 7 to 8 stations of food. They served grilled seafood, street foods, noodles, pizza, various types of barbeque, sisig, soup, fruits, desserts and many more Filipino dishes. 

 Let the photos do the talking. 







Our favorites are lechon de leche and papaitan. 

Funny story. I was falling in line for ice cream, nung turn ko na I asked the server if there is mocca and he said “wala po ma’m” I pointed the white ice cream and asked kung vanilla yun and he said yes. I went to the table and started eating my ice cream and waah! It is not vanilla ice cream, it is durian ice cream. Nalito na yata ang server and why I was looking for vanilla and mocca ice cream, Filipino and Fiesta nga ang theme. Anyway, my husband enjoyed the durian ice cream. Hahaha! 

 Likes 

 1. Waiting area is spacious enough, you can stay in bahay kubo or in these comfortable sofas. 


2. I love the interiors. The place doesn’t look crowded even guests started to arrive because there is enough room for you to move. 

 3. I like the idea of serving different Filipino dishes especially those foods that you don’t normally cook or eat at home like Papaitan, Sisig and Dinuguan. 

 4. Plus points because the buffet rate includes unlimited drinks, I guess over 20 types of drinks such as soda, juice and even beer is unlimited. 

5. The service is good from waiting area up to your table. There are staffs everywhere who gladly assist you with all your needs. You can see the smile on their faces, you can hear welcoming remarks and you can really feel their energy. I hope this kind of service will remain. 

 6. They offer acoustic bands, local folk dances and harana while eating every day. There is a live cultural show every Friday, Saturday (dinner) and Sunday (lunch and dinner) but we missed it because we left early. 

 7. I could say that the buffet rate is worth it because of the all you can eat food + unlimited drinks. 

 Dislikes 

 1. One thing that I dislike in the buffet restaurant is the children rate. I was happy because they did not charge my son yet. Imagine if I will pay P380 and my son only ate one cone of dirty ice cream and 1 pc of yema. #lugi. 

 2. The children rate is based on height so lugi rin if your children are tall.

 3. I was looking for shrimps because that’s my favorite but I did not see it their grilled station. #nagkataonlangba 

La Fiesta Buffet Rate 

 Mon-Sat Lunch P550
Mon-Sat Dinner P750
Sunday and Holiday P750

 Children Rate
Height 3.5" ft below (FREE)
4.5" ft below (P380)
4.5: ft above (Adult rate)

 Lunch Time - 11:00 - 2:00pm
Dinner Time - 5:30 - onwards 

 Leftover price P950

 Overall, I do recommend La Fiesta if you are into a buffet and if you want a place for get-together, reunions or celebrations. You can bring your friends or families who are balikbayans and foreigners so they can experience our traditional foods. 

 La Fiesta “Largest Filipino Buffet” 
Bldg 1 SM by the Bay, Seaside Blvd 
Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City 
5561111/5561222/5561333
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June 27, 2014

Philippine Airlines Experience

Like I always say, our family always travels on a shoestring so Philippine Airlines is not always our option. I always book our flights on low-cost carriers especially if there is a seat sale. I booked our Manila to Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur to Singapore flight last August and I was waiting for the promo fare for our Singapore to Manila flight.

 I could not wait any longer for a seat sale so last December, I was checking and comparing the fare on different airlines. We chose Philippine Airlines because the difference is less than 2k from low-cost carriers. We all know that we have free meals and free baggage allowance already in PAL. 

 I tried Philippine Airlines when we went to Cagayan de Oro for our Camiguin trip. But the food is nothing special, just biscuits and coffee. Hehehe!
But international flight is different, there is a small pillow that you can use, and a headset if you want to watch movie or sound trip. You have a full meal, there are appetizers, main course, and dessert. 


Now I know and experience the difference so if ever I have extra budget, I will choose PAL but if the budget is limited, low-cost carrier is still fine with me, especially for short time travel.
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Is it Time to Hire an Attorney?

If you have been injured on the job or in a car accident or have been denied Social Security benefits, you may be feeling lost and hopeless. When individuals take on the Social Security system and major insurance carriers, they are often denied benefits, claims and services because they are unaware of the laws and loopholes pertaining to personal injury and Social Security benefits and claims. If you have spent months filling out paperwork, making phone calls, faxing and mailing documents and scheduling medical appointments only to be denied for benefits and services that you deserve, it may be time to hire an attorney to do the leg work for you.

 A reputable licensed attorney with extensive experience in personal injury, worker's compensation and Social Security law will go to bat for you to get you the benefits your deserve. Even if your claim has been approved, if you are not receiving the pay you are entitled to for covering your bills or are not receiving the medical care you need as it pertains to your injury or disability, a licensed practicing attorney can help you navigate through the difficult maze of disability and worker's compensation law to get you the benefits and services you need. 

 If you are tired of jumping through hoops and ready to get what you deserve, you need an attorney with extensive experience and credentials in Iowa. Attorney James P. Hoffman is an example of a prestigious attorney with years of experience and credentials pertaining to worker's compensation, personal injury and Social Security law. He has tried and settled cases ranging from a few dollars to several million dollars, and he has frequently been listed in the Who's Who directory. He is also a member of the Million Dollar Forum for attorneys. This list maintains a list of top trial lawyers, and he frequently lectures at attorney and medical conventions about corporate law, negligence and personal injury fields of law. He has been admitted to several district, supreme and tax courts and carries a Juris Doctorate Degree in addition being a board certified hypnosis expert.

 If you need professional representation, an attorney like James P. Hoffman will go to bat for you, organize files, submit claims and fight to get you the medical treatment you need and the compensation you deserve, or you could spend years fighting the system and appealing denials for benefits on your own; the choice is clear.
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June 26, 2014

DIY Bag Tag

Bag tag is really important especially for preschool kids so they can easily identify their stuff. I remember when my son was in nursery, one of my mommy friend in school shared a story about “nagkapalitan ng baon. Her son’s classmate ate her son’s baon thinking that it was his baon. Hehehe! They have the same “Lightning Mcqueen Snack Bag”. After that incident teacher advised moms to inform their kids about their baon. 

 So every year, I make sure that my son has a bag tag. Last month I was thinking if I will make my own bag tag or just order. Then I saw the bag tag of Thoughtful and Personal Creations so I order instead.  

 Then few days after I ordered, I found this free printables bag tag, I checked the link and printed it. I used this for my son’s name tag in school. Click here to get the file. 


Update: May 2015
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June 24, 2014

Glimpse of Changi Airport

When my husband’s officemate learned that we're going to KL and Singapore, he offered us a free pass to Singapore Zoo but unfortunately, the only schedule available is our last day in Singapore so we did not accept it, sayang! We need to check-out at 12nn so mabibitin lang kami sa Singapore Zoo. I think I need one whole day to enjoy Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari, maybe next time.

 Read:  5 Days in Singapore with Kid

 So we stayed in our hotel till check-out and went straight to Changi Airport. I returned our Singapore Pass in Bugis Station to claim the SGD10 deposit and bought a one-way ticket going to the airport. 

Changi airport is huge that you will not get bored but our feet were already tired for our six days trip so we just relaxed and enjoyed the free wifi. 

After check-in, we ate at Paradise Inn Restaurant, I forgot the name of the meal that we ordered but it all tastes good. 

Then we walked towards to boarding gate, stayed for several minutes in Social Tree. It is a new attraction that allows travelers to instantly share photos in social networking profiles. 

Took some photos and waited for our departure.





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June 23, 2014

Glide Ironing Aids

Well, aside from cleaning the bathroom, ironing clothes is one of the household chores that I dislike doing but of course, I have no choice but to do it because I don’t like wearing wrinkled clothes.

Since last year I’ve been using Glide Starch Spray to help me in my ironing task and just recently I tried the Glide Easy Iron. I love these products because it also freshens the clothes as in ang bango ng damit. I love the smell.


I search for more information and here’s what I’ve found source: 

Glide Easy Iron – Specially designed to make ironing faster and easier.  It has a heat-activated Fabric Protect Formula that leaves an invisible protective film on clothes, preventing stain or dirt from being easily absorbed by the fabric. For faster, easier, smarter ironing!

 Glide Starch Spray - Specially formulated with Pro-Form Active that provides form and body making your clothes crisp and smart-looking all day.  It has a unique formula that keeps clothes wrinkle-free for a long time.  Glide Starch Spray is designed for everyday use; and is ideal for office wear, school uniforms and special fabrics that need added form.

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June 19, 2014

Singapore Flyer and more

Our six-day trip to KL and Singapore are still not enough, I still have long list of places that I wanted to visit or revisit. I mentioned in my Legoland Malaysia post that we went to Singapore Flyer to avail the coach transfer of WTS travel agency. 

 Since we’re still early for our bus schedule we have time to stroll. We’ve seen Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay from afar. I’ve reading a lot of good reviews about the garden.

 We checked the Singapore Flyer and praying that someday I can conquer my fear of heights so I can ride this. 

 We’re supposed to go to River Safari on our sixth day but we decided to stay in the hotel until check out and kill our time in the airport. #tired Well, I hope there will be next time to visit the place that we missed.

Read: River Safari
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Upcycle: Crayon Case

My son started school last week and I noticed yesterday that his crayon box was already torn. 

I was planning to buy crayon case to replace the crayon box. But of course I was also looking for small boxes in our home. My husband suggested to use the calling card case but I didn’t mind him because I thought the crayons won’t fit. 


But my husband tried it...ta-dah! 

I put label and voila, we don’t need to buy. #instantsolution #upcycle

A repost from my old blog Michi's Home Sweet Home
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Shopping at Fab Manila

I was planning for my friend’s baby shower last month and I was thinking for simple giveaways. I decided to buy microwavable popcorn as my giveaway and I’ll just put sticker of “Ready to Pop”. 


But I saw Fab Manila kiosk when we went to Alabang Town Center and I decided to buy small purse instead. I always check this kiosk every time we’re in ATC. I bought multipurpose sleeves and purse before and I love it so I’m sure my friends will love it too. I bought purse at P30 and gift wrapper too for future use at P30 per bundle. 


Fab Manila sells bags, wallets, travel items and organizers. You can buy online or in their store. If you still remember the memo card that I bought in The Candy Shop, it is also available in Fab Manila store. 

 www.fabmanilabags.com 
IG @fabmanila

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