Seeing San Mateo: Estancia de Lorenzo

I haven’t done a travel post in a while. (Wait, have I ever?) And while this isn’t exactly a highly exotic destination, it’s a notable enough getaway especially while the pandemic has promoted visiting more local hotspots for leisure. Heading north (Baguio) and south (Batangas) may still be the go-to out-of-town excursion, but don’t sleep on the east of Manila!

I got to explore a little bit of San Mateo by heading to this “hidden” retreat called Estancia de Lorenzo. This huge space is an all-in-one destination where guests can stay in their accommodations, partake in various outdoor activities, enjoy casual dining, and hold events. And there’s no need to venture so far to get there.

Check out my walking tour and restaurant review here:

And if you want to see some of their event spaces and the second restaurant in the property, here’s Part 2 of the tour:

Happy weekend!

My Favorite Local Pasalubongs

I have Ilonggo family members. My paternal grandmother’s family was originally from Iloilo. And my loud, boisterous self is extra awkward when I’m around my very malambing and mahinhin Visayan relatives. But social awkwardness aside, I remember there being so much excitement when aunts and uncles came back from Iloilo with our favorite mirienda treats, barquillos and Braun butter cake.

Ballet Manila: A Magical Take on Cinderella

If my being a girly-girl wasn’t indication enough, I had a childhood with plenty of Disney Princesses in it. My top three would have to be Snow White, Cinderella, and Mulan. On VHS tapes, no less. So you can guess that I will always have an appreciation for those catchy songs and that magic-is-in-the-air vibe. And I can’t think of a more magical way to spend a pre-holiday weekend than in catching Ballet Manila’s take on the classic fairy tale, Cinderella.

Ballet Manila: Revenge of the Classics

Let’s go to the ballet… It’s a sentence that holds many different meanings to me. Before I went to my first Ballet Manila performance, the prospect of watching the age-old dance was somewhat intimidating. Would it be too formal? Would I even understand what was going on? But M, whose grandparents are long-time Ballet Manila subscribers, assured me that it would be a fun way to spend my evening.

And fun, it was. The show I went to was the 20th anniversary concert of Ballet Manila, and I was wowed by the way the company was able to showcase a variety of performances. Some were set to classical music, while others grooved to the contemporary. Above all, I found the dance itself to be entrancing. Not only is it something that only a select few can do, but the gracefulness and passion were plain to see. And of course, pointe dancing is AMAZING to watch live. Since then, the prospect of a night at the ballet gives me a rush of excitement.

I even got this photo at the end of the night:

Starstruck, naturally, by Lisa Macuja-Elizalde

So when I was invited to check out a preview of Ballet Manila’s 21st Season: Revenge of the Classics, I was beyond thrilled to see what they’ve prepared this time around.

Ballet Manila Revenge of the Classics

MUNI Market Day

Now on its 3^rd run, MUNI Market Day continues to bring together mindful merchants and conscious consumers, this time on March 28, 2015, 9AM-5PM at Capitol Commons. True to its mission of providing not just an avenue for sellers, MUNI Market Day continues with its goals to educate guests on how to introduce healthier, more sustainable options into their lifestyle.

Apart from feasting on wholesome food and buying local or eco-friendly products, interested attendees can sign up for workshops on Urban Farming by Bahay Kubo Organics, Plant-based Nutrition by The Superfood Grocer, Vegan / Gluten-Free Cooking by Jertie’s Kitchen, and Indoor Planting by The Green House Project. Also, one of the unique draws or highlights of MUNI Market Day is the selection of musicians who bring a lot of good vibes throughout the event.

MUNI Market Day is brought to you by MUNI, a collaborative community that has been working to promote mindful living through events like this, meetups, forums, or other workshops, design collaborations, and content, which can be found on www.muni.com.ph, or their Muni PH Facebook page.

For more inquiries or possible collaborations, e-mail the Muni team at events.muni@gmail.com, or merchants.muni@gmail.com for interested merchants. For more information visit www.muni.com.ph/MuniMarketDay3.