A MOMster Life

AA BBQ	12k (100pax) consumable free use of room and sound system 500 corkage fee
PinkLemonade Balloons and Party Favors Cebu	Dessert Buffet - 4.5k Lootbags - 50/each Delivery Fee - 250 Personalized Cake (2-layer icing cake) - 1699
SkyLight's Party Needs	3.5k
Lechon	5.5k
Emcee	not stated (please contact for rate)

• PinkLemonade Balloons and Party Favors Cebu Website
• SkyLight's Party Needs FB Page
• Elton Mayol - 0933 544 4212

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Your photographer will be one of the people who would play a very important role on your wedding day. He will be there to capture this once in a lifetime moment in your lives. It would be great if you could see their actual works. And by actual works, I am referring to their photos of YOU.

Yes, you may settle with just looking at their folios, yes, you could depend on other people's reviews. But wouldn't it be great if you would be able to see and experience how your potential wedding photographer works? 

I wouldn't want to be that someone who would say "If only I knew, I could've gotten someone else." (I know some friends who are not so happy with their wedding photographs.)

If you have not yet experienced being taken by a professional photographer, then maybe this is the perfect time to try it!

You would be able to see how you would look in certain angles. See which of your smiles you'd look best. It's a good time to experiment on poses, too.

This would also be helpful to your photographer as well as this would give them an idea from which angle they should take photos of you.

By your wedding day, you'll be confident you'll look great on your wedding photos!

These photos could be used a a "Save the Date" announcement for your big day! Hooray!

You could print this out for your invitations or even for your giveaways. 

As for my case, I haven't made any official announcement yet but since a few of our engagement photos have already been out, everyone already assumed they're going to hear wedding bells real soon. Hihi.

See? Engagement photos are as good as an announcement itself. 😊

You take photos to celebrate your love as a couple. You both will be going on a new chapter of your lives. Marriage (as what most people say) isn't easy. It will be full of ups and downs.

Let your engagement photos be a reminder of the love you have for each other and may this grow stronger every day even after you have already tied the knot.

Personally for me, I really loved how our photographer allowed our little Akisa to be part of the photoshoot. We are a family after all and children should always be part of the love every couple shares. 😊

How about you? Are you also planning to take engagement shoots before your big day? 

Special thanks to the awesome team who made this photo session a great success! 

Photographer: Seph Aparente Folios

Stylist: Geof Lagria Styling

HMUA: Rizza Cincoflores

Kids are full of energy. They could be very active and tend to get dirty easily or would sweat a lot so it would be a good idea to bring extra clothes. As for me, I would only bring extra clothes when it's going to be a long day out or when I'm pretty sure that little Akisa's going to get dirty or sweaty at some point (ie. we're going somewhere I'm sure she'll be running around).

That's it! Those are the stuffs I'd bring on a day out with little Akee.

Wait! How about a baby stroller?

Well, we used to bring a baby stroller with us but now we have decided NOT to anymore. Why? Simply because Akee doesn't want to ride on it. She loves to walk! And it's a hassle looking for elevators and ramps because it would be unsafe to have the stroller on escalators.

What about you? What important things do you bring on your day out with your toddler? 

I'd love to hear from you. 😊 Feel free to leave a message on the comments section below.

Group picture at Mangodlong Rock Resort

We got up early last May 23 to catch the first trip from Danao to Camotes. Unfortunately, due to some unfavorable (and I believe, ILLEGAL) acts of some people, we were not able to procure tickets for the first trip - even those people who were already there at 3AM!

Just a tip I want to share if you're planning to go to Camotes, you could actually get a round-trip ticket from North Bus Terminal. I've just learned this information when we already reached there.

It is a two-hour ferry ride from Danao to Camotes.
When we reached Consuelo port, the area is already crowded with a lot of service cabs and motorcycles. It seemed to me that the crowd tripled from the last time I was here - which was three (3) years ago.

There we saw our trusty tour guide who drove us to Masamayor's Beach House and Resort where we had our room reservations.

Masamayor's Beach House and Resort

We had our breakfast and got our lunch packed for our tour.

Our first stop was the Mangodlong Rock Resort.
One thing I really liked about this resort is I don't need to go very far in order to take a good swim even on low tides.


And I believe it was not just me who enjoyed the place. Everyone else happily plunged into the water. And if only there was nowhere else we'd go, I believe everyone would have chosen to stay a little bit longer.

The resort also offers some nice views for a perfect summer shot.

Heya, Sweet Potatoes! We've meet again xD #outofneverland #explorePH #travelPH #summer #Camotes #beach

A photo posted by J Cyrel | Aya Byuu (@ayisharu) on May 25, 2015 at 6:22am PDT

You may also avail of some of their activities such as jet skiing.

Second stop was at Paraiso Cave and Restaurant. This was not in our itinerary three years ago so this was also my first in the said place.

Among the caves I have visited in Camotes, I find this one the smallest. There aren't much to explore and the spring is only a few steps down from the entrance. The water was very cold and deep for someone who is only 4'11" in height.

Entrance of the cave

Inside of the cave

And although the water seemed crystal clear, I did not spend too much time in it in fear of getting muscle cramps; contrary to my daughter who seemed to be enjoying herself very much even if it was really cold.

Next on the list is the famous Lake Danao Park.

I could still remember the first time I was there, it was just the big lake, the floating cottage and the kayaks. There were no other guests than us.
On my second visit, they improved a bit and started building some tables and cottages.

Now on the third time, a lot has improved. And the population of the guests just went ten times more than the last time I could remember.

There were also more tables and cottages.
We decided to have our lunch there.

Having lunch at Lake Danao Park

There are a lot of activities you could do at Lake Danao Park such as boating, kayaking, horseback riding, etc.

After we had our lunch, our tour guide asked us if we would like to visit the Holy Crystal Cave wherein he mentioned it will be a really challenging one as we might do some crawling and bending over. It seems quite an adventure but since we have an infant with us, we had to skip this one.

And if you're a little curious as to what we've just missed, here's an informative review.

We proceeded to another cave, the Timubo Cave.

It is still the same cave as the last time I was there, but this time with so many people!
That's right, the place was heavily crowded that they're already setting a time limit of 30 minutes for every guest.

Timubo Cave

But the crowd did not stop us from enjoying the cave - especially my daughter who really loves splashing in the water.

We didn't stay too long and went on to our next stop - cliff-diving at Buho Rock Resort.

I was a bit excited because I know how much my SO loves to dive.
But when we reached the place, I couldn't hide my dismay.

The place in itself is still so beautiful and picture perfect.

It's just that I really don't like large crowds.
There were a lot of people standing by the cliff and it would be kind of hard to ask them to move down without us appearing rude and arrogant.

Cliff-diving. I really wanted to have my picture taken on THAT cliff. But seeing the crowd that time, it seems impossible. So here's a pic of two random girls instead :p #outofneverland #explorePH #exploreCebu #Camotes #travelPH #cliffdiving #summer2015 #summer

A photo posted by J Cyrel | Aya Byuu (@ayisharu) on May 29, 2015 at 7:06am PDT

Because it seemed impossible to do what we went there for, we just had to enjoy ourselves swimming on the foot of the cliff, instead... And maybe just take some pictures.

Buho Rock Resort

Foot of the cliff

It was already late in the afternoon when we decided to head back to Santiago where we continued splashing in the water.

Silhouette. #outofneverland #exploreCebu #explorePH #travelPH #silhouette #sunset #Camotes #summer #summer2015 #beach

A photo posted by J Cyrel | Aya Byuu (@ayisharu) on May 24, 2015 at 5:10pm PDT

After the sun had set, my SO and I headed to Pito's Sutokil to reserve a table for our dinner.

In my previous visits at Camotes, I have always stayed at Pito's Sutokil and I could vouch that their food tastes great and are very affordable.

We had a fulfilling dinner. My personal favorite that night was the beef steak.
We headed back to our rooms and I dozed off rather early while the rest of the guys had their inuman session.

Early the next day, we had a light breakfast and proceeded immediately to have an early swim... and of course, pictures!

Water baby :D

By 10AM, we got ready to leave so we could reach the port by 11AM as what was advised by our tour guide.

In the past few years, the tour guides were supposed to get the tickets beforehand so it would be convenient for their guests. However, because of some "illegal" acts (as what is also happening at Danao port) of some people, they stopped issuing tickets for the tour guides.

And even if we did got to the port early, the available trips left are the 4PM trip onwards. Fortunately, we brought with us some grub in case we go hungry.

If you aren't patient enough, here's a little tip. I could remember on my first time there, there was a wharf somewhere where there are a few boats from Leyte that would pass by and if they're not fully loaded, they'll dock and get some passengers from Camotes. Not sure if it's still in operation, though. You might want to clarify this one when you go visit. But prolly the best option is to really get a round-trip ticket. I highly recommend it.

We were also accompanied by dolphins on our way to Danao. Yay!
Hi, Finley! :D



So that was our mini summer escapade in Camotes. My conclusion?

Camotes is a really beautiful place. It offers much more than just its picturesque resorts.
There are also a lot of other activities you could do such as kayaking, boating and diving.

The con's of this whole trip would be the overly populated spots (because A LOT of people are also having their tours), and the hassle of getting tickets from Danao to Camotes and vice versa.

And if you're like me who hates a large crowd, there are still some secluded areas in the island such as the bakhaw beach which is not yet too commercialized.

Breakdown of Expenses (9 adult; 1 infant)

Tour		2500
Masamayor
	- Family Room (4 pax)	2800
	- Deluxe Room (2 pax)	1800
	- Additional	300/head
Danao to Camotes
	- Adult	180/head
	- Student (need ID)	150/head
Breakfast & Lunch		1500 *
Mangodlong Rock Resort		20/head
Paraiso Cave		25/head
Lake Danao Park		25/head
Table and Buko		300 *
Timubo Cave		20/head
Buho Rock Resort		25/head
Dinner		1500 *
Lunch		1000 *
Camotes to Danao
	- Adult	180/head
	- Student (need ID)	150/head

* estimates

Contact Numbers

Masamayor's Beach House and Resort
0917 631 8818

Mr. Apollo (Tour and Cab services)
0918 611 3728

Some spots that you may visit or include in your itinerary: