Forget the powdered juice and carbonated soft drinks. The best way to cool off this summer is to make your very own Watermelon and Pineapple Shake.
I freeze the watermelon and pineapple chunks. Once frozen, I put them in the blender, add a little bit of sugar and water, and voila! We have the perfect thirst-quencher. Rich in vitamins, none of the preservatives, and guaranteed to shoo the heat away. And cheap!
At least twice a year (during Christmas and Easter), my family goes to Baguio City for a few days of vacation. Because I’m a true-blue Baguio girl, I do my best to ensure that my kids grow up loving the city of my roots. Baguio City is a wonderful place to teach our children the beauty of nature and appreciation for culture.
Baguio has many beautiful parks that are perfect for leisurely walks. But during peak holiday seasons, the parks could easily get crowded. So, instead of doing the usual park rounds, why don’t you get away and visit the lesser-crowded attractions? Here are some:
TAM-AWAN VILLAGE, Pinsao Proper. Tam-awan Village is also called the Garden in the Sky, because it’s etched on the slope of a mountain and has a view of the South China Sea and the lower lands. “Tam-awan” literally means “to look” or “to view”, as in “look outside your window.”
The village was founded in 1996 by Chanum Foundation, a group of local artists who wish to promote Baguio City as a cultural destination. Tam-awan Village has an Art Gallery featuring the works of famous and up-and-coming local artists. One of the founders of this village is national artist Ben Cabrera. You can have your portrait drawn by the local artists for a minimal fee. Cultural dances by Igorot women clad in native costumes are held everyday during “tourist season” (summer and Christmas break).
Summer is officially upon us and aside from the excruciating heat that our kids (and mommies too) have to endure, there is the problem of boredome. School won’t be starting for the next 2 months so that means finding 2 months worth of activities to keep our kiddies busy.
To make that chore a little bit easier, why not enroll your precious ones in a summer workshop. There are lot to choose from. Be it an academically challenging one or one that requires some physical exertion, its up to you and your kiddies to choose from the myriad of classes that are being offered.
Here’s a list of some of those workshops….
So, Baguio City seems like the over-rated summer capital of the Philippines, huh?
When you ask people how their Baguio experience was, you may hear one of these complaints -It’s so crowded, it’s not as cold anymore, the traffic is awful, there’s so much ukay-ukay!
As a true-blue Baguio girl, I sometimes find Baguio disappointing too. But home is where the heart is - and I will always love this city.
Despite these complaints, why do people still love to crowd Baguio during holidays?
Because, let’s face it, Baguio has not completely lost its charm.
Even if the weather isn’t the same as it was twenty years ago, Baguio is still about 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the country. Despite the growing population and commercialization, there are still quaint crannies - those places you might haven’t been to. And whether they will admit it or not, some people come to Baguio for the ukay-ukay!
In Baguio, the skies seem a bit bluer, and the trees a shade greener.
BAGUIO TRAVEL BASICS
1. Getting to Baguio: Thanks to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), travel time to Baguio has been significantly reduced by about an hour. From Manila, it usually takes 6 hours by bus, and less (or more, depending on the driver hehe) by private car. If travelling by car, you can choose among three ways to get to Baguio: via Kennon Road (the shortest way); via Marcos Highway (the safest way, supposedly); and Naguillian Road (the longest way if you’re coming from the south).
The summer season officially started in the Philippines on the last week of February. Summer vacation for the students started around second week of March. I am sure between these dates a lot of us, Mommies, have started jotting down on our planners the different activities our families will enjoy for the next two months of sun and clear skies. Oh, yes, the occasional rain showers are welcome respite from the scorching heat.
Parents and children greatly anticipate vacations. For all Moms (and Dads too), whether working or stay-at-home, it means more free time with the kids and a little more free time for oneself. Perhaps there is less hustle and bustle in the morning while preparing for work because the kids are still sound asleep. There is more play time the whole day and after work too with the family since there are no school assignments or projects to take care of. It feels good to talk about things randomly without any rush.
Vacation fosters family togetherness. It is a great time to bond and enrich ourselves while having fun. For the month of April, the Filipino Mom Blog shares with you summer tips and fun time to perk up your summer with the family. If there is anything we need to do for the summer, plan to have loads of wonderful time!
We will be sharing summer learning activities where your children can join for further enhancement of their skills and talents. No pressure for the kids. This should be fun for them.
There will also be articles on how to teach our children to be young entrepreneurs. Every centavo counts. A part of their summer can be spent earning some money at least for a movie date with mom and dad.
FMB will also be giving you some quick recipes you will enjoy doing with your little ones. Great for snack time and desserts!
Thinking of moving to a new house? Most parents start doing this during summer when there is no school. It’s a good time to let the children be involved and get them excited about their new room, the new neighborhood and the new friends they will get to meet and play with. We will walk you through house hunting on summer days.
The Dalai Lama said, “go to a place you have never been at least once a year”. New surroundings liven up the spirits. So if you have not visited Palawan or Davao, this could be the perfect time to explore the wonders of our country. We will be giving you travel ideas and summer destinations from the different parts of the Philippines with budget tips on the side.
A lot more is in store! We would like to hear from you too. Let’s take time to share and exchange stories about the best days of our summer vacation.
*Image from Getty Images.
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