d traveling family

  During the last presidential elections, a group of batchmates from the University of Santo Tomas High School's Class of 1994 came together to support good governance. United in our conviction, we campaigned passionately for then Vice-President Leni Robredo and her platform, "Gobyernong Tapat, Angat Buhay Lahat." Although our efforts did not yield the desired outcome, the experience strengthened our friendship. Since then, our group has continued to meet regularly, reminiscing about our high school days, discussing how the world has changed, and cherishing the bonds we have forged. We often take the opportunity of a birthday to come together and celebrate. This month, three of us boys are celebrating our birthdays: Engr. Joseph Navarro, Atty. Jun Santamaria, and myself. Jun and I share the same birthday, October 20, 1977, and we turned 46 this year. Joseph, our Kuya, turned 47! Although organizing parties doesn't come naturally to us, especially us boys, we were dete...

What an incredible birthday gift! The South Korean Embassy surprised my wife and me by granting us a 10-year multiple-entry tourist visa. It's worth noting that, at best, we were expecting a visa with a maximum validity of 5 years. We were thrilled by the news, while our two kids and my 70-something mother received 5-year visas. We believe it played a role in the favorable outcome by carefully preparing our application and including a cover letter requesting a multiple-entry visa. Interestingly, Korean visas are now issued on printed bond paper instead of being stamped. The document is called a Visa Grant Notice and informs whoever is reading it that the applicant has been granted a South Korean visa. When it's time to travel, it has to be presented to the Immigration Officer .  Now that all the paperwork is handled, we are excited to share the details of our upcoming 5-day trip to Seoul with you. Accommodation: Although we had been planning this trip for quite a while alread...

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for making my 46th birthday one genuinely unforgettable celebration. Your love and thoughtfulness warmed my heart and made me feel incredibly blessed. To all those who took the time to pen heartfelt birthday messages and send them through texts, Viber, Messenger, and other digital media platforms, though I may not be able to thank each one of you individually, please know that I read every single one with a grateful and overwhelmed heart. Your words of love and well wishes flooded my inbox and surrounded me by the warmth of your affection. I want to express my profound appreciation to those who celebrated with me in small, intimate gatherings. Our laughter, genuine conversations, and cherished moments made my birthday feel even more special.  To my family, thank you for being the pillars of my life. Your unwavering support and love have made me who I am today. I am forever grateful for the love and care you shower upon m...

Birthdays are more than just numbers on a calendar; they celebrate life, love, and milestones. And when it comes to honoring an extraordinary woman like Maan on her 45th birthday, the occasion becomes even more special. This is the story of a joyous celebration that brought together family and friends, creating unforgettable memories as they paid tribute to a remarkable woman. The Prelude: A Feast at Fortune Restaurant The festivities started with an advance birthday feast at Fortune Restaurant, an enchanting haven for Cantonese cuisine. As the guests, including the close-knit Nicdao family of Guagua, Pampanga, and a tight circle of basketball club friends, entered the warm and inviting restaurant, the air was filled with cheerful banter and anticipation. The stage was set, and the attentive staff ensured that every moment was perfect. Despite only having a short notice of four hours, Fortune Restaurant pulled out all the stops, offering a tantalizing menu that left everyone spoi...

Planning a trip to Seoul, South Korea? Getting a visa can sometimes be challenging, causing frustration and delays. However, with the introduction of the Korea Visa Application Center (KVAC), obtaining a Korean tourist visa has become much easier and more convenient. In this blog, I will share my personal experience with the KVAC and how it provided my family an efficient and hassle-free visa application process.  Last August, my family and I were excitedly planning our trip to Seoul. However, obtaining a visa appointment through the online application scheduling system proved to be a daunting task. After rebooking our Cebu Pacific flight ( https://cebupacificair.com ), we decided to give the KVAC a try. The center has been responsible for all visa-related applications and passport releases since September 2023, making the process more streamlined.    KVAC Overview: The Korea Visa Application Center is conveniently located on the 9th and 10th floors of the Brittany Hotel ...

Traveling is a beautiful way to create lifelong memories, broaden perspectives, and connect with different cultures. Travel has always been an integral part of our lives for our family of four, consisting of two doctors in our 40s and two amazing children. Since the early days of our marriage, we have been exploring our local surroundings in the Philippines and venturing internationally. Having experienced the joys of travel, we have decided to start a travel blog to document our adventures, connect with friends and family, inspire others to travel and share valuable tips and advice. Join us as we embark on this exciting journey of capturing travel memories, sharing stories and photos, and providing helpful content to fellow wanderlust souls. The Tradition Continues The travel bug bit us early on, and it became a tradition for our family to embark on at least one international trip each year. Our eldest son, now 14 years old, has already explored a remarkable 20 countries, incl...