I did not receive any work load today so I figured I will make use of my free time writing about our visit to Sabin Resort Hotel situated in Ormoc City’s southern coastal shores. This does not happen too often, having some agreeable space to let my mind drift back and forth just to come up with great ideas, on how to make my post well-written or at least attract enough people to actually read the whole post. Unlike other bloggers, more often than not, I do not write a satisfactory article in just a short span of time. Let’s just say that I have tons of stuff I need to do before I can find time to create posts for our websites.

So going back to Sabin Resort Hotel, this place is considered one of the finest resorts in Ormoc City. We went to this place to join in a Father’s Day surprise dinner for some of the members of the Couples for Christ Ormoc Chapter. The women thought it would be a fabulous idea to arrange a surprise dinner for their husbands to celebrate Father’s Day. Val and I tagged along with his brother and sister-in-law thinking that this was a rare opportunity to shoot photos of the place for our blog sites. We were not certain when we would get another chance to visit Ormoc again in the future.

Sabin Resort or fondly called Sal’s Beach was named after its owner Mr. Sabin Larazal, who envisioned a resort big enough to accommodate a vast crowd. The resort can be a wonderful setting for anniversaries, birthday parties, reunions, picnics, and an assortment of small get-together with families, friends, and relatives.

At night time, the place looked magnificent with its radiant golden lights accentuating the hotel’s structure, creating a dreamy and exquisite facade just perfect for anyone on vacation. Regrettably, as breathtaking as the place was, we had to struggle with my simple Canon IXUS 95is. Do not get me wrong, I adore my point and shoot camera but it just could not take the shots I wanted because the place was just too dim. Secretly, I couldn’t help but think how much I wanted a DSLR camera at that moment, but this was just wishful thinking.

Nevertheless, I had to manage with what I had then made vigorous attempts in taking shots just about anywhere in the hotel. My eyes scanned excitedly over each breathtaking spots that I could see. The mood of the hotel was a familiar blend of romantic and wistful sensation. Standing vibrant and proud, coconut trees contributed to the hotel’s relaxing and unruffled ambiance. Old-fashioned cottages were also scattered just about anywhere carrying out a mixture of both contemporary and traditional structures.

One thing that caught my attention instantly was its ectomorphic pool. It looked enormous and superb! The pool was definitely one of the superlative swimming pools I’ve wandered about in my waking life. It was extremely inviting that I had to stop myself from attempting a long leap then diving luxuriously in its gleaming waters. Too bad we did not stop for a night swim. It was almost 10 PM after all.

The food was exquisite during dinner. The only disadvantage is the lack of man power to assist customers with their orders. It usually took them several minutes for our orders to get served. We then relayed our concerns to one of their waiters, he stated that there were just too many guests and not enough servers that night. I looked around the restaurant and true enough, the place was crammed full.

Reservations in Sabina Resort are most often overflowing. People typically need to arrange reservations a week earlier to get accommodated. Despite the hotel’s luxurious amenities, the room rates are not too lavish compared to other resorts here in Cebu. You can already reserve an executive suite at a reasonable price P2600! Typically, executive suites within resorts here in the Philippines, range from P4000 to P7000.

After dinner, Val and I found ourselves exploring the Sabin Resort Garvie’s Hall. I’ve read from the resort’s website that the ballroom can accommodate 100 to 150 guests. Remarkably, the resort has 60 guest rooms with bathrooms and 2 other small conference rooms that can accommodate 30 to 50 guests. Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to visit the Rose Grand Ballroom which is said to accommodate 400 to 500 guests. This is quite an outstanding accomplishment since not all resorts provide the same accommodation.

A few things I regret during our trip was that we did not have sufficient time to explore the hotel further and that we did not have the right equipment to take quality photos of the place. Anyhow, I was surprisingly happy to have been there and hope that someday we will finally get to swim our butts off in its magnificent and stupendous pool.

Room Rates and other Amenities

ROOM TYPE RATES
SUPERIOR Php 1,600.00
Facing Parking Lot A choice of 1 Queen Size Bed or Twin Bed Located at the Main Bldg. of the Hotel
DE LUXE Php 1,850.00
Beach Front All rooms have Twin Bed Located at the Main Bldg and in the Row House
PREMIERE Php 2,000.00
Beach Front All rooms have 1 Queen Size Bed Located at the Row House With Bath Tub and Shower
EXECUTIVE SUITE Php 2,600.00
Beach Front 1 Queen Size Bed and 1 Single Bed w/ Sofa Located at the Second Level of the Main Bldg With Shower
PRESIDENTIAL SUITE Php 3,800.00
Beach Front 1 King Size Bed Located at the Second Level of the Main Bldg. With Bathtub, Hot and Cold Shower, Personal Ref. Mini Bar, CR for the Guests and a Visitor’s Area
EXTRA BED / PERSON Php 400.00
• Single or double occupancy
• Free of charge for children below 12 years old staying with parents without extra bed
• Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
• Check-out time is 12:00 noon
The rooms have the following features:
• Airconditioning unit
• Private toilet and shower with hot water
• Color television with local/cable channels
• Desk, dresser and cabinet
• Telephone for local/NDD/IDD calls
• Safety deposit box available at the Frontdesk
Other hotel services and amenities:
• Business center
• Gift shop
• Internet cafe
• Shuttle service to/from Ormoc City Port

Special Thanks to Gil and Lissa Ramirez for the wonderful treat!

For more information: Visit http://www.sabinresort.com

Our second stopover was the Carmelite Spirituality Center situated high above the mountains of Barangay Milagros, Ormoc. The walk towards the center was tedious which only made me realize how much I lacked exercise.

The Carmelite Spirituality Center was of course captivating and somber. To witness the stunning statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus, we had to climb further up small but rather lengthy steps. I could not help but feel that the further we ascended up those hallowed steps, the more you feel spiritually vulnerable and reflective.

After reaching the top, I have never felt happier since finally we were able to reach our short and momentary destination and of course, I got to see the statue closely. I felt an assortment of feelings then, I prayed again thinking that I had to, it was inevitable. I guess this is somehow what anyone would most likely do whenever you feel God is in close proximity.

I refuse to be a hypocrite so I dare admit that more often than not I tend to neglect praying and contemplating my spiritual existence. This is something that I am not proud of but am willing to put in extra effort in keeping in touch with my spirituality.

Claretian Mission Center

Our last visit was the Claretian Mission Center which can be found just a few miles before the Carmelite Spirituality Center. Just the same it was a place where anyone would feel indebted to God. You will certainly sense the need to be yourself and commune with God.

As I continuously took pictures of these spiritual sites, I felt excited to share about our experience with other people. Perhaps you would rather go elsewhere than to confront your spiritual insecurities and impurities.

But just bear in mind that whenever you need a place to be closer to God, you can always consider visiting Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery, Carmelite Spirituality Center, and Claretian Mission Center as safe havens to seek spiritual guidance and prayers.

The Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery, Carmelite Spirituality Center, and Claretian Mission Center were just among the tourist destinations we visited during our six day stay in Ormoc City. The trip was comfortable despite the scorching temperature solely caused by the sun’s persistence.

Our first stop was the breathtaking Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery situated in the hills of the Barrio Cabaon-an. Its location was quite perfect when your own soul is searching for refuge. If there was indeed a perfect haven to surrender yourself to the goodness and purity of God’s will then this was indeed the ideal place to contemplate.

The outskirts were mostly covered with pine trees and other trees I have yet to identify that contributed to the monastery’s green paradise. The entire place was echoing with spiritual solemnity that for the most part I felt that some divine being was watching over its visitors.

The monastery was built back in 2001 and was later blessed by our very own Cardinal Vidal in June 25, 2001. Remarkably, it was built due to private donations and funding events held in California.

Back then and until now, the monastery was administered by eight humble Clare nuns from the Clarisas Capuchinas Sacramentarias Order in Mexico. These nuns have fervently prayed in adoration to the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for the whole world and the Church. Many have long since approached these nuns seeking their spiritual help and prayers.

Their only means of fulfilling their basic necessities are through selling vestments, pastries such as cookies, bread, corn chips, and so forth. But they still appreciate help from the community to help them survive.

Just recently, they have built the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe overlooking the monastery. It was designed to serve as a formation house for novices and a reception area for welcoming visitors. It was not my intention to be climbing steps but I felt like we had to go up there to witness this wonderful shrine. After reaching the peak of the shrine, I watched high above its location and felt how lucky we were to have seen the Our Lady of Guadalupe Monastery.

Just yesterday, we’ve traveled northeast of Ormoc City and stumbled on the famous Lake Danao National Park after a 20 minute ride from the city. The weather itself was on our side despite its sizzling heat, we were quite excited to arrive at our destination.

The Lake Danao National Park is a 2,193 hectare area and is about 15 kilometers travel from the Tongonan national road.

The trip towards the park was all right; however, I strongly suggest for you to bring along some food or snacks and drinks particularly water just to quench your thirst since the sun’s heat wasn’t really welcoming.

The well celebrated Lake Danao is the main attraction of the National Park which covers 148 hectares in the island Leyte, Philippines.

Frankly, I felt a bit of panic as we drove our way towards the National Park since the road was just strangely unfamiliar and isolated.

After reaching the Lake Danao National Park View Deck, we couldn’t help but take pictures of the magnificent lush green forest surrounding the lake. The scenery was utterly picturesque and breathtaking.

The Lake is 2,600 feet above sea level and its perfectly painted panorama can be seen high above the view deck.

It was initially named “Lake Imelda” and was proclaimed a natural park by the late President Ferdinand Marcos in June 2, 1972. However, in February 3, 1998, the park was renamed as Lake Danao National Park.

Lake Danao is shaped like a guitar stretching roughly three kilometers hemmed by the verdant and unspoiled evergreen forests. The strikingly rich flora and fauna that can be seen ubiquitously is accentuated by the Amandiwin mountain range that also borders the lake’s magnificence.

The lake furnishes drinkable water to seven towns in Eastern Leyte including Tacloban City.

We went downhill and noticed that unlike before, an endless cemented path extends from left to right, taking you closer to the edges of Lake Danao.

We walked continuously on both directions starting from the right but soon realized that it was taking forever to reach the main lake.

Sadly, there were neither sign boards nor directions constructed along the path that would guide visitors in reaching the lake. This I understand since the National Park was still a work in progress.

Perhaps soon enough there will be significant improvements that will attract more visitors and tourists.

At present, locals are offering rides aboard rafts made of bamboo and small boats.

You can experience first hand the unspoiled waters of Lake Danao for a minimum of P200 on board a small “banca” or a Philippine term for outrigger canoes. The banca ride entails one trip around the lake making it possible for passengers to get a bird’s eye view of Lake Danao’s splendor.

On the other hand, a ride on board the bamboo rafts cost P150 per person. The raft can take you only until the center of the lake then back.

The rides may seem costly even for me but the lasting experience is worthwhile if you desire to make the most of your trip in Lake Danao.

Special thanks to Gil Ramirez for giving us the opportunity to visit this beautiful place. May God  continue to bless you and your family.

Portofino Beach Resort found in the modest island of Mactan Lapu-Lapu City, is one of the prominent beaches within the highly urbanized area of the Cebu province.

Portofino is a term that originated from Italy, which is a popular tourist resort on the coast of the Ligurian Sea east of Genoa. The term also denotes ‘Port of the Dolphins.’

Portofino Resort in Lapu-Lapu Cebu is well celebrated by Cebuanos and predominantly tourists for its white sand beaches and stunning blue green and lucid waters. It is conveniently a 30-minute drive from the Mactan International Airport. So if you’ve been daydreaming about walking bare foot along the tropical shores of Cebu then this is without a doubt the perfect slice of paradise once you’ve reached the airport.

The Portofino Beach Resort in Mactan Island Cebu, in spite of its close proximity, was just a mere flight of imagination until most recently, along with my blogger buddies; we stumbled on an opportunity to explore its picturesque and intimate panorama.

Ironically, our plans of exploring the rides of Talima Adventure and Water Park was cut short seeing as it was closed and will resume the next day due to some site improvements and maintenance. Ideally, we would have loved to experience personally what this new-fangled rave was, but I guess to due some inexplicable reason, we were just out of luck. But this didn’t thwart my eagerness for exploring other resorts, so we’ve decided to opt for Plan B.

Plan B was of course, Portofino Beach in Cebu. The entrance wasn’t pricey given that we only paid P75. The entrance was a reduced amount of what you would have paid on a weekend, which is usually P100. I highly recommend the resort for families with kids since children of age 6 and below have no entrance fee. I relished the delightful scenery my eyes wandered over its beauty as soon as we’ve entered the resort.

Our first stop was the food stalls and Beach Point lounge where customers can purchase snacks and beverages like shakes. A table by the beach costs P300 and you have the option to order food and drinks at the Beachpoint lounge. It may seem costly, but it has a great panoramic view of the beach and will certainly relax those muscles after hours of swimming.

The Beachpoint lounge is well-known for its culinary delights typically wonderful for those craving for Philippine and international cuisines.

Portofino Beach also offers an array of exhilarating water sports and activities including the famous banana boat ride, snorkeling, diving, wind surfing, jet skiing and cruising aboard the SIV Tuko, which is a 60 feet luxury boat that sets sail at a maximum pace of 18 knots.

Portofino Beach Resort amenities include the Beach Point Lounge, Swimming Pool, Diving lessons & gear rental and Island hopping.

Room Rates and other fees based on their official website as of  June 23, 2010 are:

Portofino Beach is a delightful escape from the hubbub of city life. Undeniably, I will return soon to take pleasure in its coral blue waters along with my family.

Portofino Beach Resort directions is shown in this screen shot from Google Maps.

For reservations and any updates or changes about the fees visit the official Portofino Beach Resort website.

Contact details are as follows:

Portofino Beach Resort
Bo. Angasil, Mactan Island
Lapu Lapu City,
Cebu, Philippines
Tel. No. (032) 495-7768
(032) 495-7881 to 82
Fax No. (032) 495-7769

Special thanks to Eds for some of the photos featured on this post and to Doi for the invite.

The Volkswagen Beetle was produced by the German auto maker Volkswagen from 1938 until 2003. Deemed very economical and designed for sustained high speed, the VW Beetle was originally intended for the Autobahn, a German term that denotes dual carriageway limited access highway. In due course, the Beetle turned out to be a top seller in the US despite its rear-wheel design. It was regarded as the benchmark for the American compact and subcompact cars like the Chevrolet Corvair, Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto. The success of the beetle mania owed much to its tremendous high build quality and innovative, attention-grabbing advertising.

1974 VW Beetle – The California Look

The Beetle is popular with customizers throughout the world not only because it is cheap and easy to work on, but because its iconic looks can be personalized and the flat four motor is tunable.

One of the more popular Beetle styles in the 70’s up to the present is the Cal-Look (California Look). The traditional Cal-Look way to customize is to change the wheels into an era correct sports wheels such as those from Porsche vehicles and the lower suspension of the car. One of the original California Look modifications is to replace or remove the bumpers and replace them with T-bars, either to give a cleaner look or reduce the curb weight. The exterior body chrome trimmings are also removed to achieve a bold muscular look. Engine displacements are also increased to have a true sense of there is more than meets the eye.

1976 VW Beetle Convertible

The 1303 sedan had faded into history but the 1303 Super Beetle convertible remained. The MacPherson front suspension, full sized instrument panel and panoramic windshield that characterized the Super Beetle Sedan continued on the convertible.

In 1976 there were very few convertibles being produced by US automakers. The Super Beetle was one of the only choices for those who wanted the open-air experience. The increase in sales sparked the release of one of the most popular special editions, the Triple White convertible. White was Germany’s national racing color so this 1303 came with Alpine white paint.

The Thing – Type 181

The Volkswagen Type 181, also known as “The Thing”, “The Trekker” and the “The Safari” is a vehicle developed for the civilian market in the 1960’s from the Type 82 Kubelwagen used by Germany during World War II as a light field transport vehicle.

In 1969, the manufacturer, Volkswagen, built the Volkswagen Type 181 in commercial quantities a substitute of the Kubelwagen for the motoring public. It has been estimated that about only 140, 000 units were ever produced world wide spanning only 11 years of production (1969 – 1980).

Between 1969 and 1972, the Volkswagen Type 181 was produced and assembled in Germany. From 1973 until 1980, production of its components took place in Mexico and subsequently assembled in Indonesia.

1968 EMPI IMP Buggy (Yellow)

In the late 60’s, EMPI (Engineered Motor Products Inc.) had gone considerably farther with the development of this vehicle with a shorter wheelbase that provided superior road handling. Sweeping fender lines added sports-car styling and permit easy entry. The IMP also sported wide rear fenders that accommodated those super wide tires.

It is dubbed as “The Car for all Seasons” because it’s not only a dune buggy, but a multi-purpose fun car wrapped up in a beautiful fiberglass body. So versatile that it could be used as a dune buggy, city car, fun car, off – roadster, commuter car, sports car or street rod. All these, coupled with the use of the famous EMPI performance parts and accessories, make the EMPI IMP the soundest choice for driving pleasure both on and off the road.

1973 VW Beetle 1300s

The first special edition, and quite probably the best ever Beetle, was the sports model – the GT Beetle. It was the most well-known of all the special editions, and VW started releasing them in 1972. Only 2500 of these GT’s were made. The sports bug took its foundation from the European 1300s, which was a 1300 fitted with a 1584cc engine that was putting out 50bhp, and had the advantage of front discs.

When sold in the UK, they kept the 1300s badge, which if the customer didn’t like, the dealer would have it removed and replaced with the VW GT Beetle badge. Apparently, the reason why so many people opted to keep the 1300s badge, was that they had lower insurance premiums due to the badge.

The 1963 VW Type 1 Double Cab

The VW Type 1, also known as the Split Screen Bus, has the distinctive split window windscreen and swooping lines meeting at a V point in the front. The VW Type 1 was produced from 1950 until the introduction of the T2 in 1968.

With a simple Type 1 air-cooled VW engine (1131cc, 1300cc, 1500cc, the same engine that powers the Beetle) mounted in the rear of the vehicle directly above the rear axle, and the cab (or cabin) at the front directly above the front axle, the Type 2 is evenly weight distributed front and rear and leaves a large cargo room between the axles. This large and low cargo space is the key to the bus’ success and versatility.

1976 VW Westfalia

Volkswagen Westfalia Campers were conversions of Volkswagen Type 2 (better known as Transporter or Micro – Bus). Volkswagen subcontracted the modifications to Westfalia – werke (most often called Westfalia) in Rheda – Wiedenbruck, Germany where various models and options were available.

Standard Equipment: 1976 VW Camper Interior

• Various Foldout seat arrangements for sleeping
• Birch plywood interior panels
• Laminated plywood cabinetry for storage
• Screened Jalousie windows
• Water storage and pump
• Ice box or cold – box
• Sink (some models)
• Electrical hookups
• Curtains
• Laminated folding table

1970 VW Beetle

The 1970 Volkswagen Beetle faced a flood of challenges — a higher price tag, a stale design, fresher competitors, and ever – more stringent safety and emissions standards. The 1970 Volkswagen Beetle remained viable as a simple, low-cost car able to cope        with all sorts of adverse conditions – a Volkswagen in the best, original sense.

But mostly, the 1970 Volkswagen Beetle was just an old design with only fuel economy, workmanship, and durability on its side. This was the perfect Beetle for those who valued the above – mentioned attributes.

1971 VW Beetle

The VW 1500 is a hard beetle to beat and is usually for in-town performance and for in –traffic handling. And on the open road its hill-climbing power is power to spare for speed limit cruising all day.

It was the lowest price 1500cc car you could buy during its time. And it came with a load of extra – like a safety steering column that collapses under severe impact; breakaway rear –view mirror – to mention a few.

A picture of Kristen Stewart giving the paparazzi who took this shot her greeting as she and Taylor Lautner boarded a jet boat. Reportedly, as she and Taylor got off the boat, they practically ran to evade avid fans and photographers who where patiently waiting just to get a glimpse of them.

Kristen Stewart was spotted enjoying a smoke break outside her hotel balcony but arrogantly flipping the bird one more time at photographers.

Questions that arose include where Robert Pattinson, Kristen’s boyfriend, was during the tour. Also during the Eclipse promotional tour in Seoul Korea, the young actor was no where to be seen.

Satisfy your thirst for music and lose yourself deep into the groovy yet spellbinding nature of DJ Dubsonic’s musical world. Get mesmerized by the ocean of musical blends Dubsonic can proffer.

DJ Dubsonic, full name “Chris Dobson” is a rather talented and inspiring DJ who rose from the humble county of Fort Myers, Florida. Being involved in music all his life, Dubsonic prided himself in his vast knowledge of modern and classical music. His versatility and creativity led him to his popularity, which also allowed him create an air of smoothness and sophistication as he sways your core with his melodic liquid drum and bass and electro house blends.

DJ Dubsonic’s talent doesn’t just stop there, he easily creates his own mixture of electro house tracks that keeps you jamming and grooving till you drop. Witness this versatile smooth operator at the Indigo Room in Fort Myers, FL every Tuesday nights where he is a resident for Mixtape: the Party!

Check out his Portfolio and listen to his original and extremely catchy electro house track!

After Seeing Jake Gyllenhaal in his latest movie Prince of Persia I was wondering whose his new girlfriend considering that Reese Witherspoon just broke up with this hunk last December. It was a surprise when the two reportedly called it quits because Reese just wasn’t ready to tie the knot even after two years of dating. Shocking right?! That’s what I thought, but anyways, Reese and Jake who met during the set of Rendition kept their relationship discreet for some time before the press finally found out about it.

Recently, many women had been linked with Jake Gyllenhaal namely Gretchen Bleiler whose considered one of the most accomplished snowboarders in the world. She’s also famous for creating a snowboard collection for famous brands like Oakley. Jake also dated stars like Natalie Portman and Kirsten Dunst.

Just recently, there had been rumors circulating the Internet about Jake hooking up with Isabel Lucas, the hot chick who stalked Shia LaBeouf in Transformers 2 when he was away at college, disguising herself as a robot called the Pretender.

I’ve read from LaineyGossip that Jake and Isabel Lucas were spotted really cuddled up together at Garde Manger, a prominent restaurant in Montreal. Gyllenhaal is currently shooting the movie Source Code in Montreal, so luckily for Lucas, he would need someone to spend time with now that he’s single and all.

Jake was really awesome in his character as the orphan, Dastan, who was fortunate enough to become a Prince after being adopted by King Sharaman due to his selfless act of courage and bravery, after saving a childhood friend. We’re also thinking that he and Gemma Arterton, his co-star who played Princess Tamina, look super hot together. Gemma Arterton even admitted fantasizing about kissing Jake Gyllenhaal. Who wouldn’t? He was flattered by her compliment and even mentioned how Arterton wanted to eat his face or something like it.

There’s no confirmation yet from Jake who he’s currently dating and after all the women he’s been with and called it quits, I think he deserves some time to get to know his new girl. If you’re wondering what’s cookin’ with Reese Witherspoon, well don’t fret since the actress was spotted having a cozy dinner with Jim Toth in Santa Monica back in February and may still be dating the CAA agent until now.

The SM Cyberzone’s Summer Festival was all I could think of that day.  Anticipating the utter exquisite experience that’s waiting to unravel, my restless mind can think of nothing else. It seems only yesterday when the child in me scribbled a circle on the date May 25, 2010. A day full of promise and excitement when in just a few hours, SM Cyberzone will celebrate its Summer Festival here in the very heart of Cebu City, boasting its significant technological multiplicity, that’s absolutely a dream come true for any techy geek. Despite our rather extreme schedules at work, my colleagues and I decided to be part of history and witness the SM Cyberzone Summer Festival.

Before the SM Cyberzone Summer Festival, I’ve always thought of SM City Cebu as a home away from home especially for Filipinos. Its massive structure seeks to accommodate your daily needs like no other store can. From clothing, food, furniture, home appliances, gadgets and just about anything you can think of, SM City Cebu has it all! Like any techy freak I’ve kept a long list of must-have gadgets that goes beyond just possessing them in my dreams. After SM Cyberzone was constructed, looking for my favorite gadgets had never been easier and trouble-free!

Luckily, I’ve bought countless gadgets from SM Cyberzone ever since I can remember. From mobile phones, personal computers, LCD monitors, game consoles, iPods, digital cameras, laptops and my current obsession, Netbooks; this place has proven itself more than just your run of the mill Shopping Zone for gadgets.

SM Cyberzone is like your genie in a bottle! The only little difference is, it encompasses loads of stores that showcase the most up-to-date gadgets from the biggest brands worldwide like ASUS, Nokia, Samsung, HP, Lenovo, Motorola, Sony, LG, MSI, Canon and the list keeps growing! It just quenches your thirst for technology as you plunge from one store to another, learning the latest gadgets out in the market. Never will you feel the need to travel elsewhere just to get the latest gadget. All that your techy heart desires can be found in the SM Cyberzone and at a reasonable cost!

I’m dedicating this movie slideshow to SM Cyberzone for graciously allowing me to be a part of its Summer Festival held last May 25, 2010 at the SM City Cebu. Thank you and I’m looking forward to the next event!

Finally, when my colleagues and I reached where SM Cyberzone’s Summer Festival was catapulted, like a little girl I was surprised yet overwhelmed by how gracious and welcoming the hosts were at the registration booth. Like some sort of VIPs we were treated with care and each of us where even endowed with cool perks sponsored by PLDT MyDSL. As if that wasn’t enough, we were asked to pick a prize at the Booth of Luck where I won an eGames CD! In entirety, I was able to bring home a t-shirt; cap embroidered with the label Mossimo much to my obvious delight, eGames and a cool Dragonica poster which my brother treasured with haste!

SM Cyberzone’s Summer Festival was entirely full of surprises. Gaming stations were propped up for avid gamers and users alike to experience the invigorating thrill of the latest gaming technology. Amazingly, the festival was jam-packed with people taking turns on each station. While waiting with anticipation for my turn, I watched with childlike interest as some kids were having a blast trying out the Nintendo Wii. They swayed along with the music featured in the music video game, Band Hero, feverishly hitting the drums like some hardcore drummer! Bystanders including me were chanting animatedly to the tune of some familiar songs. Laughter was inescapable and intoxicating as we took pleasure in watching young adults try the Tennis Wii. Known for its Motion Plus feature, the Tennis Wii is extremely interactive. I know this for a fact since I played this game prior to the festival. Incredibly the game replicates the natural feeling of swinging a tennis racket back and forth. I wouldn’t mind getting some work out done with the Tennis Wii. I know I’ve read a review about how this game also allows you to setup a calorie counter.

While enjoying the festivities that SM Cyberzone’s Summer Festival had in store, I suddenly caught  sight of  my friend Xerxes, a Cebu blogger, who was among the crowd of enthusiasts. We chatted excitedly about the festival and how cool it was to receive some freebies. He introduced me to some people from the Cebu Bloggers Society, also visibly carrying the black PLDT MyDSL paper bag. Suddenly, my buddy Doi, who attended the festival with me, towed me towards the convivial photo booth. Doi and I posed like famed divas while Edcel took pictures in between laughs.

Inevitably, we had to return to reality and stop to check out the Upload Express stations where we can have our photos developed using Epson’s Photo Printer. We didn’t want to miss the chance taking into account that the photos were for free! Sadly, when it was our turn, the lady assistant expressed her apologies since they already run out of photo paper. This I understand, needless to say, there may have been a hundred people who eagerly joined SM Cyberzone’s Summer Festival this year.

Unperturbed by not having our photos developed, we checked out other features available at the Upload Express Station. There were laptops and Netbooks manufactured by MSI, that  were offered for those itching to upload their photos online for free and those who wanted to visit their favorite social media website, Facebook anyone? Of course, I didn’t miss the chance of trying out their Netbook since I’ve been visualizing about having one of my own these past few months. I felt at ease typing our site, www.glitterstop.com and www.bloggercorner.com, on its keyboard. I was satisfied with how the screen looked since it was wide enough to avoid the typical bothersome horizontal scrolling you experience with other Netbooks. Sure enough, the feeling only increased my ardent desire to have one.

After we’ve tried out all booths and stations that were knowingly arranged to  commemorate the SM Cyberzone Summer Festival, namely the Booth of Luck, Gaming Stations and Upload Express Stations, our experience climaxed with pictures of Doi, Eds and myself along with the members of the Cebu Bloggers Society. Our faces donned expressions of children who just got their favorite toy or candy bar. Unwittingly satisfied and stirred by the whole experience brought about by SM Cyberzone’s Summer Festival.

Cheers to everyone who joined the festivities!