In the Philippines, Holy Week = Long Weekend.
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| The Gang |
In this particular trip, I didn’t did much in terms of choosing the resort and reservation. My friend Ivy did all the dirty job. It was her first time to organise this kind of trip, she and Philip haven’t really been doing a lot in terms of our group trip. Usually, I do all. They were just there to pay, sit back and watch me do all the work.
I was always the “Mom” of the group
But since me and Paul were just back from our Puerto Princessa Escapade, I was not really planning anything to do during the Holy Week. but since Ivy insisted to have the last hoorah trip before she start for her new job, I let her do all the research and turn the tables on them. Luckily, She found a resort that was right for our budget. I in particular don’t want to spend much since Me and Paul still haven’t got a job and we’ve just recently splurge on our last vacay. My budget was just 5000 Pesos for Me and Paul. Here’s the break down of what we’ve did.
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| Morong Star Beach Resort Deck |
THE STAY
We have rented a room good for 4 people for just 3,750 a night. We stayed at Morong Star for 3 days and 2 nights that’s 7,500 Pesos. 50% downpayment was paid upon reservation.
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| From Left: Me, Philip, Ivy and Paul |
For the room, it was pretty much just a room.
No TV, No Wifi, No servicephone.
Just 2 queen size beds which was humungous. The comfort room was small, but it was ok. The room was also air-conditioned (a Philippine necessity). for 3,750 a night it was ok since outside the room, the resort offers a lot of activities to do.
They offer:
- Zumba (one in the morning and one in the afternoon)
- Movie by the shore (starts at 8pm)
- Zipline
- Water Activities (banana boat, kayak, etc.)
- Island Hopping
- Swimming Pools (for Kids and for Diving Practice)
- Adventure Park (mini biplane, one line bridge, etc.)
- Karaoke
If I miss something please do check their website. They have a complete list there.
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| Adventure in the beach? |
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| Philip and Ivy |
Other than the activities around, We got to talk more with each other. Ivy bought a card query game, it was fun. We got insights on the boy’s thinking, fantasies and dreams. We also had a lot of time walking by the bay and just beach bumming.
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| Me and Paul trying the mini zip line |
THE FOOD
Since We were on a tight budget Me and Paul (Ivy and Philip, too) bought food along with us.
DAY 1 – THURSDAY
When we got there, it was lunch time – I have cooked Adobo and Ivy bought Lechon Manok at the bayan area of Morong so, the chicken was still hot when we got there.
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| Shot from the deck |
For Dinner, We decided to try the resort food. For Me and Paul, we’ve ordered Sinigang na Isda -since it was Holy Week and we are Catholic, we are obligated to eat anything either than meat and to make-up for the meaty lunch we had (The Adobo and Lechon Manok). For Philip and Ivy, they’ve ordered Chicken Pastel (I don’t know what the heck they were thinking, We just ate a whole chicken during lunch time still crave for more chicken at dinner). For our surprise, the serving of their food was humungous. It was really worth our money, for it was not just generous in terms of serving size but it was really good. Me and Paul spent 245 Pesos (170 for the Sinigang and 25 [x3] per cup of rice)
DAY 2 – FRIDAY
We have bought our water heater with us, for breakfast we ate cup noodles, pinoy tasty (loaf bread) and coffee.
For Lunch Time, we have bought canned tuna and vienna sausage.and just bought cooked rice outside the resort at the karinderya (a small store selling cooked foods) for only 10 pesos per cup.
Dinner, again we bought cooked rice outside and saw a small barbecue stall and bought 2 sticks of pork barbecue for 30 pesos each. plus we bought 1 order of dynamite sticks (green chilli in a for of spring roll) for only 20 pesos.
DAY 3 – SATURDAY
Same as yesterday, cup noodles, pinoy tasty (loaf bread) and coffee.
Lunch Time, we drop by and ate at Mcdo – Subic on our way home.
OVERALL
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| Paul in Zenn Mode |
Although, the lack of television in our room made us a little disappointed at first but later turned into a good thing that happened because during our down time, We got to bond in the most natural way of bonding – thru sharing and talking to each other. We’ve discussed things we’ve never talked before and had a lot of reminiscing during our college days. We did a lot of things people do before the wifi era, walk and explore the bay area without updating our status or sharing an instagram groufie.
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| Almost prenup picture material |
all of the social media updating happen when we got home. it was just a chill 3 days at the shore and I really felt the beach bum vibe. After the trip, I realise that I can survive 3 days of no internet and no news from the television and just living at the moment. with that happened I think, I can survive camping but in a for glamping (glam + camping). It just open a door for another opportunity to try next for our future trip, and since glamping sites are now becoming a thing here in the Philippines, sooner or later I will be trying it. and although my no meat diet during the holy week was not really consistent but the thing that substitute it was days of no social media, which I think was more of a big deal than a no meat diet.
It was really a sacrifice, social media is a part of my everyday life.
but during our trip – funny, but the idea of not being on-line – I thought was not liveable. I thought, I won’t last a day. I supposed that nothing really beats good company. The thing that I can’t really survive is a day without good company.
