The best thing about having a boyfriend is being able to explore the metro more with a companion, a lover, a bestfriend, and a potential financier. Be it food tasting on the street, or fine dining in Intramuros, the experience is better appreciated with someone to hold hands with, to laugh hard with, and to dream dreams with.
Here is a list of the top 5 affordable date places my GG (God's gift) and I went to within the 5 months we are together. In love, there is no need to break the bank.
The Bayleaf Hotel Skydeck and 9 spoons restos
We love it there at the Bayleaf. When he was still courting me, he invited me and our friends to dinners at the Skydeck and the 9 Spoons. The Skydeck provides 360 degree unobstructed view of Manila. From the U-belt of the North east to the buildings in Makati and Malate to the South, the Manila Bay to the West, and the Manila Cathedral and the Port area to the North, the Bayleaf Skydeck provides a refreshing romantic backdrop.
When it is drizzling, try out the 9Spoons resto. They have almost the same menu. Skydeck is al fresco while 9Spoons is at the penthouse of The Bayleaf. We are still checking when can we try to check into one of their rooms. Rooms start at Php 4,500++ per night.
Last night, we celebrated the BF's birthday at the Bayleaf Skydeck. Too bad though he was not greeted by the staff as they did when we brought other friends who celebrated their birthdays there. Perhaps they did not believe us when he quipped it was his birthday.
RK Hotel, Subic Zambales
As if our July stay in RK Hotel is not enough, the BF has just finalized plans for our stay in RK Hotel. His gift for my birthday, an overnight stay at the RK with my mom and my friends. Yey, I will be able to stay at the pool (i hope) all night! See my blog about our RK Hotel stay last July here. He loves the peace of SBMA and the hospitality of RK Hotel staff so much he wants to go back again and again.
See my Singles for Christ Reflection while in the RK Hotel in Subic here
SM Mall of Asia Bay Area
For Luneta Kids like me, there are some point when we miss just hanging out at the bay area of the Park. These days the bay area of the park has a hotel and a mall, and the remaining part of the bay was converted into a car park. So we tend to stay at the Roxas Blvd area, Harbor Square, or yes, the SM MOA Bay area.
The Bay Area is well maintained by SM personnel, from security guards who advise people not to stand on the concrete barrier between the sea and the mall to the janitors who keep the area clean. We like how everything is within reach in the SM MOA and we can enjoy the Manila Bay sunset while sipping our favorite milk teas.
Tea Houses
Alone, I was able to try only 2 tea houses in Manila: Simple Line in Legarda St., and Mang-Chaa across home. With the GG, we were able to try and compare the following: Chatime, InfiniTea, Mang-Chaa (we are patrons), Happy House Tea (this I need to confirm, we go here often yet we refer to it as the Tea House near St. Jude Parish) and Simple Line. We have yet to expand our milktea experience as I think I am getting tired of teas. We will go back to tea drinking again soon.
The Araneta Center/Gateway
Cubao is my parents' date place when they were younger. I find it cute that I am now considering this to be our date place too. From UAAP games, to dinners, to our Starbucks Gateway and/or Starbucks Alimall whole day staycation, to attending church at the OLPH, to shopping for bargain shoes, we have created a love filled experience at the Araneta Center. There are much more to explore and discover in this area as well as in the areas near it - St. Pio parish at the Eastwood, Antipolo City and its overlooking restaurants, Marikina and its foodie faves. There is so much more to learn, explore and enjoy, not only in the places mentioned but in our life experiences as a couple as well.
For all these and more, for having my GG, for everything in my life right now - my family, career, and the opportunity to study law, I am so grateful.
Thank you Lord.
May God be praised!
P.S. Happy Birthday Mahal.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
SFCMMC 2013 Reflection
It's been more than a week now since we left for Subic for the SFC Metro Manila Conference 2013. I have several realizations and random thoughts while I sustained a prayerful and loving mood for 3 days in Subic, Zambales.
It really helped that we were billeted in a hotel that provided peace and comfort during our 3-day pilgrimage to our souls. We were blessed to be loved and see the manifestations of that love as we praise and worship God.
(The hotel did a fantastic job in taking care of us. See more of that hotel here)
I learned how to float on the swimming pool of RK Hotel. On the last night of our stay, when everyone in my group started to travel back to Manila and while the boyfriend is busy with his own concerns with the Hotel staff, I am at the pool, praying, talking to my God, reflecting on the words I heard, the stories shared, the love proclaimed.
I thought, I am so blessed. Here I am, a self-employed, law student, real estate broker who have been broken in spirit, poor in finances, lacking in self-respect and wisdom, imperfect and here is God. The God who loves me; An all powerful, ever-living, generously loving Father who made Himself one of us through Jesus Christ.
Here He is, with me, listening to me while I talk to Him at the RK Hotel Pool. I asked questions, He answers.
The message I heard:
My Child, see how you learned to float on this pool I made you experience. When you were starting, you were afraid, you didn't how how to properly breathe, water get into your nose, you felt drowning. You were told to trust the water and it will take you but you cannot. You cannot trust the water because you are filled with confidence in yourself. You think you know what you need and have to do. You have your plans. Yet you still drown.
Delight in Me. Trust in Me. Trust in my Love for you. Let yourself go in my Love. Pursue the Wisdom I generously give to My children. Do not be afraid. Trust Me.
When you trust the water to hold you, when you started to properly more your body so you will flow with the water, that's when you float. That's when you will be able to enjoy the experience of floating on water. There are times you feel afraid and you start to drown, never be afraid for I am with You. I am the Living water that carries you.
When you trust Me, when you fully bask in my Love for you, that's when you will be able to enjoy the embrace of my Wisdom. I have carried you in My heart since before you were conceived. I have made My plans for you. I am carrying you to the place I have prepared for you. All I need from you is to Trust Me. I love you. I love you. I love all the things about you. And I will never cease to love you til Eternity. I am Eternity. I am Life. I am the Law. I am your destination.
-----
I heard all of this while I was talking to Him while i float and enjoyed the pool. In the silence of the night, underneath the night sky, He talked to me and I listened. I told Him, You are my God. You are my everything. Let it be unto me. Your will be done. I believe You have planned everything in my life. I trust You Father. I trust your Love.
I felt blessed and loved in the silence of the RK Hotel swimming Pool.
For all of these and more, may God be Praised.
(P.S. I asked God if I still need to put up the website. I already have this for my personal blogs and a property blog which has reached 21K+ hits. He said I should go on. I asked for a title, He said Manila101. He said life is meant to be lived one hundred and one percent. So the next week I started writing over my own domain at http://manilasun101.com. A gift I have for the One who Loves me. A property and travel blog that will contain all God's goodness in those areas of my life as a real estate broker and an aspiring travelling lawyer. )
It really helped that we were billeted in a hotel that provided peace and comfort during our 3-day pilgrimage to our souls. We were blessed to be loved and see the manifestations of that love as we praise and worship God.
(The hotel did a fantastic job in taking care of us. See more of that hotel here)
I learned how to float on the swimming pool of RK Hotel. On the last night of our stay, when everyone in my group started to travel back to Manila and while the boyfriend is busy with his own concerns with the Hotel staff, I am at the pool, praying, talking to my God, reflecting on the words I heard, the stories shared, the love proclaimed.
I thought, I am so blessed. Here I am, a self-employed, law student, real estate broker who have been broken in spirit, poor in finances, lacking in self-respect and wisdom, imperfect and here is God. The God who loves me; An all powerful, ever-living, generously loving Father who made Himself one of us through Jesus Christ.
Here He is, with me, listening to me while I talk to Him at the RK Hotel Pool. I asked questions, He answers.
The message I heard:
My Child, see how you learned to float on this pool I made you experience. When you were starting, you were afraid, you didn't how how to properly breathe, water get into your nose, you felt drowning. You were told to trust the water and it will take you but you cannot. You cannot trust the water because you are filled with confidence in yourself. You think you know what you need and have to do. You have your plans. Yet you still drown.
Delight in Me. Trust in Me. Trust in my Love for you. Let yourself go in my Love. Pursue the Wisdom I generously give to My children. Do not be afraid. Trust Me.
When you trust the water to hold you, when you started to properly more your body so you will flow with the water, that's when you float. That's when you will be able to enjoy the experience of floating on water. There are times you feel afraid and you start to drown, never be afraid for I am with You. I am the Living water that carries you.
When you trust Me, when you fully bask in my Love for you, that's when you will be able to enjoy the embrace of my Wisdom. I have carried you in My heart since before you were conceived. I have made My plans for you. I am carrying you to the place I have prepared for you. All I need from you is to Trust Me. I love you. I love you. I love all the things about you. And I will never cease to love you til Eternity. I am Eternity. I am Life. I am the Law. I am your destination.
-----
I heard all of this while I was talking to Him while i float and enjoyed the pool. In the silence of the night, underneath the night sky, He talked to me and I listened. I told Him, You are my God. You are my everything. Let it be unto me. Your will be done. I believe You have planned everything in my life. I trust You Father. I trust your Love.
I felt blessed and loved in the silence of the RK Hotel swimming Pool.
For all of these and more, may God be Praised.
(P.S. I asked God if I still need to put up the website. I already have this for my personal blogs and a property blog which has reached 21K+ hits. He said I should go on. I asked for a title, He said Manila101. He said life is meant to be lived one hundred and one percent. So the next week I started writing over my own domain at http://manilasun101.com. A gift I have for the One who Loves me. A property and travel blog that will contain all God's goodness in those areas of my life as a real estate broker and an aspiring travelling lawyer. )
Travel: 4 days at the RK Hotel, Subic
It’s more Funtastic in Subic.
My Boyfriend and I are members of the Singles for Christ community. This year the SFC Metro Manila Conference was held in Subic Bay Convention Center. To prepare for this conference, the boyfriend proposed that we check out the place weeks before the conference. We also decided to go so we can look for a place to stay once the convention starts.
We found a gem of a place in RK Hotel very near the Convention Center and in a very strategic location near everything we need. A short walk away is Starbucks SBMA, Puregold Duty Free, Royal Duty Free, Jollibee, McDonald’s, Chowking and Nike Factory Store.
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