Bright young thing

BicolBlogger.com’s First Award

Sharing this with you, dear readers, might seem kind of late already. But still, this happening is definitely worth posting especially because it is not every day that awards are given. Right? :)

So BicolBloggers.com won a place in the recently concluded search for the top ten significant blogs in the country which was hosted by The Emerging Influential Blogs 2015 Writing Project (the one I’ve wrote about here in my blog few weeks ago).  TheProject is already in its 8th year of recognizing blogs which are evidently gaining audience and in the process, influencing them.  The awarding happened last October 10 during the Digital Influencers Marketing Summit in Best Western Plus, Antel Hotel, Makati. And yes, my co-bloggers and I am still giddy and overwhelmed of such acknowledgment!

I would like to congratulate my amazing co-bloggers for a great job! I feel really proud to be a member of a group of young people who are taking part in the promotion of our very own province. We do differ in our field of interest but we are bonded by our love for Bicol.

This recognition, of course, will not be possible without the love from you, dear readers. That’s why, in behalf ofBicolBloggers.com, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your support and for continuously allowing us to help you guys know more about Bicol and its people through our blogs and websites.

Show some skin

So I thought of sporting an off shoulder top which is slowly becoming a fad again. 

At first, I found it a bit awkward—a portion of cloth dangling in front and at your back, the garter trying and not trying (yes, kind of) to let you reach things *ha ha. But of course, I have to try it, I thought. I bought one in dark floral blue and found it really girly.

What I love about the trend is how it can make one look chic without showing too much skin. I mean, it appears “modest,” chic and playful all at the same time. This can actually become one of my favorite comeback from the 80’s. :)

BicolBloggers.com for the Top Ten Emerging Influential Blogs 2015 Writing Project

They say that the internet poses a myriad of negative influences to entire populace especially to young people.  However, we cannot ignore the fact that it also becomes a crucial tool for people to share with the world their ideas, to inform and entertain, to influence others in their own simple ways and most especially to pursue movements which aim for changes. Blogging (which is now being enjoyed by a lot of online/ SNS savvies) is just one of the benefits brought by the internet.

It is inspiring to think that there are various award-giving bodies which recognize significant blogs around the world.  One is The Emerging Influential Blogs 2015 Writing Project (http://www.influentialblogger.net/2015/09/emergingblogs2015.html). This project is already in its 8th year of recognizing blogs which are evidently making influence to its readers. The people behind this work hand in hand with Digital Influencers Marketing Summit, Certified E-Commerce Specialist, Entrepreneur, and Professional Program, Alfox Printing Services and One Network Ecommerce.

So I decided to nominate my top five chosen blogs which I believe are making difference and are influencing its readers.

Below are my picks:

On top would be Bicol Bloggers http://bicolbloggers.com/ – a blog whose main objective is to promote the Bicol Region, homegrown brands, events and its people.

Nagayon http://www.nagayon.com/  – is said to be “an online directory” of Naga City in Bicol. It aims to give voice to various business and establishments in the region. A blog which will let you know more about places in Bicol, its people and culture.

Jonas.ph http://jonas.ph/ – I am basically in love with this blog because it will tour you to different places especially here in the Philippines. The photos are perfectly captured. And a big plus would be the witty captions/ writings. His love for travel is just too infectious.

Eazy Traveler http://www.eazytraveler.net/ – Another blog which caters to people who loves going to adventures. It informs its readers about different places (and foods) worth visiting.

Dessert Comes First http://dessertcomesfirst.com/ – A lot of food stories here. This blog will tickle the food lover in you.

Hello readers!

Make Your Own Havaianas contest is once again here in Bicol! And in celebration of #MYOH’s awesome 10 years, everyone is invited to experience the Iuau party at SM City Naga this coming October 14 to 18, 2015!

To support #MYOH2015, I will be hosting an online contest in partnership with our all-time favorite flip-flop brand! This online contest is open to all Social Networking Sites like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

So how to join? Read the steps below:

Step 1 : Make sure to follow me on Instagram and Twitter: @pattypeyra and in Facebook (Patty Peyra as my usernamer).

Step 2: Set your accounts in PUBLIC so we can track your entries.

Step 3: Take your best Hawaiian-inspired photo and post it on your chosen Social Networking Site: Instagram, Twitter or Facebook account. Your caption must answer the question: “What is your best Havaianas experience in Bicol?”

Step 4: Don’t forget to tag @havaianasphils and use the following hashtags: #MYOH2015NAGA, #MYOH2015, #SayAlohaBicol and #PattyTriesToBlog

__________________

The most creative shot (30%) with the most number of likes (50%) shall win a  Complimentary MYOH Pair to be assembled during the MYOH Event on October 14, 2015.

Promo duration is from September 21 to October 8, 2015 (until 11:59 pm only). The winner will be announced on October 9, 2015.

Start uploading, guys!

Calaguas Island Paradise

Last May 1, a holiday, we headed to our first summer destination: Calaguas Island Paradise (as they call it) which is located in Camarines Norte, few hours away from Naga City

We availed the 2-day, 1-night package from NorthLink (a travel agency). From Daet, we travelled to Vinzons Port and from there, we had a 4-hour boat ride. It was May, so the sun was really scorching *define. We forgot our foods inside our bags (they were made secured in a vault located in the lower part of the boat) so the travel time seemed to be more tiring than it should be, I guess.

We started enjoying the white beach at around 4 in the afternoon. There were a lot of bakasyonistas from different places. And it was really fun joining them– feeling the heat of the sun, the rush of warm waves here and there.

(How can you not fall in love with Calaguas’ turquoise water?)

(With its perfect white sand?)

(With its calming sunset view?)

One good thing about the island not yet being “commercialized” is that it still has its natural beauty, that certain grandeur which you can rarely see in a number of beach destinations nowadays.

On our last day there, we had a mountain climbing activity which was exhausting but was really rewarding at the end especially because of the scenery.

(Finally, how can you not fall in love with its captivating scenery?)

The Avenue Plaza Hotel is a multi-awarded 4 Star hotel located in Magsaysay Avenue, City of Naga (the heart of Bicol). The hotel is committed not just to offer temporary home for tourists but also to provide a wide array of services which will surely give ease and comfort to every customer’s stay in the city. (Photo of the hotel lifted from asiatravel.com)

The 4 Star Business Boutique has a number of facilities which cater to the needs of bakasyonistas, business groups or even just a family who wants to celebrate special occasions with a different take. One can also find a 3 storey fitness center which is a part of customers’ privileges. 

CAFE PLAZUELA

The Avenue Plaza Hotel also houses the Café Plazuela, a fine dining restaurant which features world class culinary creations of the hotel’s “global chefs.”

This coming September 8, 2015 (in synced with the upcoming Penafrancia Festival), Café Plazuela will be launching its new menu featuring the culinary creations of Executive Chef Rudy V. Velasco and Pastry Chef Paul A. Oraa- both are internationally acclaimed chefs. And since we, Bicol Bloggers, were lucky enough to be the first ones to indulge our eyes and appetites in Café Plazuela’s newest flavorful dishes, I will be sharing with you some photos to keep you tuned in and excited for September 8.

For appetizers, we were served  Scottish Smoked Salmon Melba and Cold Cuts Harmony.

Scottish Smoked Salmon Melba (the one in the middle part) is a combination of thinly sliced smoked salmon, accompanied by a salad of baby greens, served with capers, lemon wedges and Melba toast. 

On the other hand, Cold Cuts Harmony (the one in the lower portion, right side) is especially made of flavorful ham, salami, and lyoner sausage on to of mesclun of lettuce which is served with horseradish and mustard sauce. 

Above is Cafe Plazuela’s Classic Caesar Salad which is made up of crunchy garlic cruotons, anchovy fillet, crispy bacon, shaved Parmesan cheese, iceberg and romaine lettuce, tossed in Caesar dressing.

Of course, being a seafood lover, I did give a special attention to their seafood meals. To my surprise, the restaurant’s new menu actually consists plenty of seafood choices! 

The one I was able to try was the Gambas Ala Venetian (the one on top, prawns marinated in garlic olive oil and sauteed in lightly spiced tomato- basil concasse) which is definitely a must-try. 

Above (left side) is the Pan-seared Chicken Supreme which is made up of mango-stuffed chicken breast with Martini and apricot glaze. The dish is served with green rice and sauteed vegetables.

I also gone loco on their Australian Tenderloin Steak (the one on the right side) which is served with fresh market veggies. I certainly love the texture as well as how the rich flavors are deliciously combined to perfection.  

How will I forget this sweet creation of Pastry Chef Paul A. Oraa? The above photo is a glimpse of my favorite Cappucino Chocolate Cheesecake. Aside from the lovely plating, I definitely love the fusion of flavors. (This can be anyone’s comfort food!)

My tummy was already satisfied and “ecstatic” (yes, ecstatic is the term) even before we were served desserts. But because I just could not say “no” to a guilty pleasure, I was still able to end my dinner with that sweet treat.

The entire dinner was such a wonderful experience. Cafe Plazuela’s new menu will definitely satisfy everyone’s craving for great food.

Last August 11, we, Bicol Bloggers were invited to the Regional Launching of Great Taste in Naga City. 

Aside from a great night with other bloggers, I enjoyed the night because we were able to get to know Great Taste Coffee, its history, innovations, new coffee choices as well as their latest promo which is the #choosegreatwingreat

They are giving away up to 3 million pesos, and various great prices like a visit to PBB house, a date with Daniel Matsunaga and a lot more. (You can visit their site for more info.)

Que Pasa Naga

There are indeed a lot of newly opened coffee shops, food places in Naga City. (And I'm starting to believe that Bicolano people are “foodies” by nature.)

One food place that my friends and I recently visited was Que Pasa, a Spanish-inspired fast food near the Naga Cathedral.

I will say that their food offerings are a must-try especially for those who want to try something new and different (to help your palate veer away from the usual meal). 

Que Pasa will allow you to choose the combination of what you are going to eat (from meat to veggies [yes! Healthy!]to yummy cheesy macaroni to some Bicolano specialties) your choice of rice, side dish, and even your preferred sauce.

A big plus would be how the place was designed.

All-day ready

I've been thinking of possible ways to combine chic and preppy look in one getup, something which will showcase my penchant for girly and boyish looks. 

I go plain.

Free-spirited

In UP, we have a number of dance groups—two of them are basically more into modern dance. Perhaps, you already saw them on television once or twice (if you’re a fan of dance competitions such as the ones sponsored by Skecher’s). UP students would usually see them at the DL Umali or SU building where they conduct rehearsals. 

The first image is a photo of UPLB’s Street Jazz (lifted from pinoymanila.com) and the second one is a photo of UPLB’s Wyre Underground (which I lifted from juice.ph).

Personally I see them as really talented persons considering that they can work so hard even until the wee hours doing choreographs for their performances and still, manage to attend classes and maintain good grades. You know, the art of perfectly juggling studies with other things like hobbies and interests.

The photos above are actually inspired by them. Those are “Pwede-na-po-ba-ako-sa-Wyre-Underground-o-di-kaya-naman-sa-Street-Jazz? kind of photos. 

Funny but I guess  I’m a frustrated dancer deep inside. Hihi

To be honest, I am not really into this kind of blogging. I am accustomed to a community where you have to dwell on other things first before you worry about how you look. After all, substance comes first before anything else. It’s always good to be remembered not by what you wear but by what you can share and say.

Nonetheless, as an ambitious person as I am (charaught! Haha) I tried this style blogging for the sake of trying and it turned out really fun. In a way, I learn to exert extra effort to have something to post.

Recently, a good friend of mine asked if she can use one of my photographs for her artwork! Yay! And it will be displayed in a real exhibit!

Three Reasons Why You Need a Haircut

It is never easy to let go of things you are used to have. For some, it is like losing a part of their individuality. I don’t want this post to be so dramatic or whatnot. So all I am saying is that changes are indispensable and truly essential.

The thing is, I finally decided to have a haircut. That’s why I want to share three reasons why you must try a new hairdo too!

New is better. I won’t say that new is always better but hey, you deserve a new look! A make-over is a necessity not just to look better but to suit your look to your age. This reason basically boils down to the idea that our crowning glory must complement who we are, what we do and what we want other people to think of us.

There are a lot of hairstyles to try and you must start now! Boy cut, shaggy (is the spelling right?), layered, name it. You can even imitate your fave celeb’s hairstyle. I remember how my friend commented that I seemed to mimic Kathryn Bernardo’s new hair. That was funny since I had no intention to copy hers. It was almost two weeks when I realized that our hairstyles look the same! So, what a coincidence!

New hair means new you! Believe me, I tried it several times before, new hairstyle will make you feel like you’re a new you, a different, better version of you. New outlook in life almost always benefits you. It helps you to carry on and look at the present as a chance to move on (it does not necessarily mean that you are heartbroken!), to alter what you have to and make better decisions. 

Sorry Not Sorry

I was amazed when I heard that girls and guys of my age here in Bicol are having TumblrMeetups. I was used to a community where people are into organizations, fraternities and sororities and not into blogging thing. There are some who keep blog accounts but at the end of the day, the talk will almost always revolve on the stressful acads or demanding organizations.

Needless to say, the nice thing about this kind of gathering is knowing new buddies. In my case, I first met three Daet bloggers who became my “ka-together” during the event. One of them actually took photos for this entry. Later on that day, I met more bloggers. We went home with plenty of giveaways from some sponsors and of course, great experience.

Free-spirited

I have this close friend who always shares her craving for boho looks.  Her craving is too infectious that I somewhat came to a point, you know a “eureka” moment, when I suddenly realized how awesome boho outfits are. I started downloading photos from the internet to serve as inspirations in trying (yes trying) boho looks.

de nîmes