Gerthel.. A Beach ...

We have gone to a lot of beaches... public or private... brown sand or white sand... crowded or not crowded.  We all have different criteria about beaches... Me, for instance,  sometimes I like a beach with a lot of amenities, of course affordable and very accessible.  This is when i need to break free from work, relax and have a good time with friends and loved ones but sometimes I just want a beach that is not crowded and have less amenity to be able to be stress free and to relax my mind... just the calm water, the white-brown sand and a good sunshine.

There's this place in Batangas, a beach not fully developed, but has a few resorts. The place is the stretch of Gerthel-Marsol beach.  A few resorts can be found in this beach, Gertel beach resort, Almalin, and 2 or 3 resort private resorts which you can rent for an affordable fee. Here you can observe serenity and relaxation.You can find this resorts at Lobo, Batangas. Just a few minutes away from the town proper where the flee market, church, pasalubong center, municipal hall, fire station and plaza is located.

Here, you can walk along the stretch of the long white-brown beach with as if you own the place. The water is warm and soothing. The kids can swim up to about 20 meters during the afternoon and still the seabed is reachable.  You can watch the sunset as it goes down the mountain. You can buy fresh fish from the fisherman docking from afar during dawn and late afternoon with only a few peso.  There is no bar or disco at the stretch of gertel beach (sorry for those gimik lovers) but a very reliable videoke machine is available for an affordable rental fee.

How can you find Gertel beach?  It's easy when you bring your own vehicle...

1. When coming from SM Batangas City, you just drive straight passing Pontefino, Montevictoire Inn, and Fortune Cement at Taysan, Batangas.  Straight ahead you can find the welcome sign of Lobo Batangas, you just keep going until you reach the flee market then turn left passing the municipal hall then right turn then go straight ahead...  after the basketball court, turn left passing through the coconut plantation of the locals and a little more steps is the brown-white beach sand of Gertel Beach...
2.  When coming from Lipa... go straight ahead passing Mt. Carmel Church, Batelec II Main Office, Magnum Opus School, Andoks and Jollibee at Rosario, go straight further and you will pass by Petron Gasoline station at Taysan, turn left at Taysan Public Market, then right at the rotonda then go straight again until you reach fortune cement then turn left and go straight ahead where you can find the welcome sign of Lobo.
3. When coming from Ibaan, you just go straight passing by Puyat Steel Corporation and Pueblo Niño Subdivision, turn right at Mercury drug, going straight to Taysan... (go the same route when reaching Taysan and Lobo).
4.  When commuting to Lobo you only go via Batangas City where you can ride a jeep at Lobo's designated terminal.

It will take around 1-2 hours to get to Lobo via the routes above.

Gerthel beach at Brgy. Fabrica, Lobo is one of the best fine white-brown beach in Batangas.  Here you can be relaxed, be stressed free, and enjoy its water and its scenery.

CHUCK MANIA...

It's official! My family loves Chuck...

We haven't really watch Chuck on cable because of lack of time.  When one day Dada, my hubby, watched one episode of it when he was relaxing at our room.  He called my sister if she has downloaded a series called Chuck.  To our luck, my sister download every episode of Chuck and compiled it per season.  She does this every so often to her favorite movie or series.  So, Dada ask her to lend us any of her downloaded series of Chuck... Season 1 first... then 2... then 3... then 4...  It made my eye soar... from watching until dawn... I had a swollen eyebags and a sleepy eye... but still  Chuck is irresistible! We even had a marathon chuck weekend... Me, hubby and my son.

We love Chuck Bartowski, Sarah Walker, John Casey, Morgan, Ellie, Awesome, Jeff, Lester, the nerd herd, Buymore!

"Guys, I know kung Fu!" , "Chuck, stay in the car!", "Agent, Agent Charles Carl Michael!" are some of the famous line from the series...

I really miss watching chuck. It became one of the bonding moments of the family. We all love watching it.

Season 4's last episode of Chuck was when Morgan, his best bud, put on the the black shades and uploaded the intersect. My son said "What? Morgan as the intersect!"  We all look at each other open-mouthed and laughed.  We started discussing what might happen to Season 5.  The producer said it will be the last season and only have 13 episodes... We felt sad but still nothing is final...

Can't wait for Chuck Season 5 coming this August...

In 20 years...

Last night as I was browsing the lessons of my Son,  I saw an interesting note which he wrote for his CBA subject.  Here it goes... The title was  "What I want to be 20 years from now."  My son is only 8-1/2 years old  and is in Grade 3 right now... In 20 years he will be 28. I was so surprised to read what he wrote. He has 5 wants. He scribbled:

"What I want to be 20 years from now"


1.  I want to be a basketball player because I like basketball.



2.  I want to be a policeman. ( his grandfather was a retired colonel )




3.  I want to be a banker because my father works in a bank.




4.  I want to be a Mayor. ( it's in his blood )



5. I want to be a Doctor.   (my unfinished business)






I hope he will achieve whatever ambition he like... we will support him all the way!

Daddy and Kaeiro

My two boy's bonding moments...

This picture was taken during our trip to Cebu... We had an afternoon flight via Cebu Pacific last May 2009... Kaeiro is goofing with daddy... Kaeiro likes to looks down to see the vast area of land and water as seen from the window of the plane.  Dad, on the other hand, watches and tell Kaeiro what he could see down there.

during our flight to Cebu

This was taken at Alegre Guitar's Cebu when we had our city tour... As you can see like father like Son... White Shirt and Khaki cargo shorts...

At Alegre Guitar's Cebu

My two boys loves swimming... They can't resist the tempting water of the swimming pool and the beach... Every summer vacation during the weekend we try go to nearby resorts and beaches... We live in Batangas where you can find the best beaches... 

Daddy and kaeiro loves to go swimming

Daddy teaches Kaeiro how to swim.. 

And lastly, boys will be boys... they love to shop at toy kingdom... Toy shops are just heaven for them ... They both like playstation, computers, toy cars, action figures etc... 

Daddy and Kaeiro loves toys... at Megamall Toy Kingdom..

My two boys... My Life...

Side Trips... Slideshow

Side Trips... Slideshow: "TripAdvisor™ TripWow ★ Side Trips... Slideshow ★ to Dagatan, Taysan, Batangas (near Batangas), Pansol, Calamba City, Laguna (near Los Banos) and Cebu City. Stunning free travel slideshows on TripAdvisor"

Me, Myself and I...

1.  I was born a bull.

2.  I love chocolates!

3.  I learn to drive at the age of 16...

4.  I love everything violet...

5.  I am a big fan of Francis M. and E-heads 

6.  I did a piano recital when I was in grade 3 at Maryknoll (now Miriam College) and now I can't remember my piece.

7.  I am fond of bracelets and anklets...

8.  I had 2 serious, 1 not so serious and 1 super fling relationships before I said "I Do"

9.  I love to shop and window shop at Divisoria, Quiapo, Kanlaon and Greenhills...

10. I love beaches... 

11.  I went to places like Puerto Galera in Mindoro, Boracay, Tagaytay, Cebu, Subic, Baguio, and Hong-kong.

12. I like and plan to visit Camiguin, Bohol, Pagudpod, Palawan, Singapore and the United States in the future.

13.  I like reading books but doesn't have the time... but do so when time permits it.

14.  My fave subject is Math.

15.  I can't resist the taste of super chocolate selecta ice cream.

16.  I am a Tomasian, a Ritarian and a Lasallian!! 

17.  I went to Med School up to 2nd year. (not my calling)

18.  I like to learn photography...

19.  I plan to have a masters degree in 5 years...

20.  In 10 years, I'll be owning a bar and restaurant, a craft store and a beach house.

Afritada and Potato Salad

Father's day is fast approaching... Sunday it will be... What do we remember on this day?  Of course the obvious,  my father, our dad, daddy, tatay, ama, itay, popsy, or what ever you call your dad.  Most of us remember the father as in his physical self, but we must remember his works, his deeds and the good times both of you share.

My father's gone to heaven almost seven years now.  A sad chapter of our lives.  He was still young at 54 when that happened. But no one was to be blamed because maybe or just maybe it was meant to be.  

My father - Daddy as we call him was loving and took care of us his children when mom was abroad.  He was a house-band for sometime.  He woke up early, he did chores, he helped us with our assignment and he took care of our daily needs.  There are ups and downs in our lives but my dad didn't gave up.  

I remember when my dad scolded me, even spanked me when I don't want to go to school.  I was grade 3 then and was pencil pushing at Maryknoll College (Miriam College).  My school bus, california busliner, always fetch me at 5:30 a.m. and bring me home at 6:30 p.m.  That day I don't want to wake up for school so dad scolded me.  That was the first time.  The second and I think the last time was when I was in college... it was when daddy found out that dada (my hubby) and I were a couple.  

Bigote... gov... lito lapid... dins... dondi... that's friends call him... He is a master of everything... he kutingting all kinds of stuff... he is good in lettering... he draws... he's a good singer... he is the best cook... Nothing can replace his afritada and potato salad.  He is the best-est dad ever! 

How I miss my Dad so much. Happy father's day Daddy! I love you!

And happy father's day to all the fathers, soon to be dads and wanna be dads out there!

extra ordinary

I watched this docu at a ch11... I watched children being taught by a volunteer teacher.  She teaches these children every saturday. She teaches them to write and read without hesitation.  I envision myself doing that but I don't know how and where to start.

I really put my hands up whenever I see ordinary people help someone... To me these ordinary people are extra ordinary. They are simple yet they reach out.  They are poor yet they reach the poorest. They are nobody but to the people they helped they are somebody.  In filipino, nakakataba ng puso to hear or read people of this kind... How can I be like them? ... Maybe I have to start by renewing myself... by finding me.... looking inside me... inside my heart...

Eight...

As I flipped the pages of  kaeiro's baby book, I blankly stared at the wall and thought how time flies.

2001 when Da and I got married we didn't forced ourselves to have a baby yet.  We still are enjoying each others company as the two of us. We go out, go to different places, and is starting to build a solid foundation for our family.  In 2002,  I discovered that I was pregnant.  I go on with my usual life but a little more careful.  I still went to the mall, went to work, and even had an out of town vacation.

Nine months later, 13th of May 2003 at 8:30 in the morning to be exact, my precious angel came.  We named him DHANE KAEIRO RAMIREZ DELOS REYES. Whew... ang haba.  Can't shorten na the name eh.  It was submitted to the hospital and was typed on the birth certificate already. We really liked my angel's name. DHANE from the his dad's nickname Dhada and KAEIRO from the Cairo, Egypt but with a little twist.

When I first delivered my first child lots of thank you for God is what came out my mouth.  After a  five hour labor and delivery, I fell asleep. It was all worth it.  The stomach pain, the back aches... huh... all worth it! When I woke up I was in my room already.  Saw Kaeiro for the first time when we went to the NICU of Mary Mediatrix Medical Center in Lipa City.  When I saw him I knew he got my eyes and his lips is from his dad.  After a day and a half we went home.  Kaeiro was home.

Now, Kaeiro is 8 years old... a grade 3 student... a bright boy... is into computer... enjoys biking... loves to swim... adores Ben 10... and likes Math.