#GonewithTheLind: The Lind Boracay Experience

Writing and reading play a huge role in my life. They are my favorite hobbies and they are essential for my line of work. But as often as they are my strength, there are still days they serve as my weaknesses when stress and pressure overflow and I worry that I'll lose my focus and control. 

On one of those dreadful days, I was scouting through the internet looking for motivation and I came across a quote from the wise Mahatma Gandhi and it goes: In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into a crystal clearness.

That's when I realize I probably need a little bit of time-off and when I got an invitation to The Lind Boracay, I felt like I was truly falling on cloud nine when I found that perfect classy place where I can just get lost in pure tranquility and bliss.

I couldn't find the exact words for this opportunity as this 5-Star Hotel is just beaming with class! I mean, besides the hotel's serene ambiance, cozy rooms that are simply tres chic, their excellent hotel service, ravishing food and lovely gardens, they also have the most wonderful swimming pool with the mesmerizing view of the white sand beach and a quick access to that, too. It was a glorious moment where I just felt like getting myself lost in paradise. Plus, I got to share this wonderful trip with some really good friends such as Cosmo mag Fashion Editor Donna Cuna-Pita, Preview mag Executive Editor Isha Andaya-Valles, Keren Pascual and models Tola Orendain, Monika Sta. Maria, Carlo Gonzales, Raph Robes and Dimitri Tolenaars. Well, what can I say? The more the merrier, right?

So if you're dying for a glimpse of paradise, looking for a romantic rendevouz by the beach, or simply just want to get away from the hustling bustling city noise, look for The Lind Boracay at Station 1, Broacay Islands as they are now accepting reservations!

To the Lind Boracay Team, the stay was truly heavenly. I was definitely #gonewiththelind!

Love how the lights glisten around the hotel! It seems so hypnotic

Team #GoneWithTheLind

Looking from above, it felt like I was truly a bird in paradise!

Uh-oh! These lovely birds are on the lose!

The Bird Cage Cabanas were so cozy.

Everyone at the reception area was so friendly

Monika Sta. Maria and Raphael Robes

Dimitri Tolenaars

The Garden Room with a view. I feel so much like a duchess, being able to stay in a grand bedroom like this

This pretty young lady, Tola Orendain, deserves a good break after just finishing her college thesis! Congratulations, girl!

They call this the Crust, a great outdoor dining area near the white beach

Perfect night for a Luau

This lounge felt so homey! 

The famous infinity pool with a breathtaking view of the white beach

It's Mojito Night! Or should I say day?

The one and only Boracay lioness Donna Cuna-Pita

I miss you already The Lind Boracay! I'll definitely see you soon

The Lind Boracay makes way to Manila

I looove being a writer! I get to experience the wonders of going to new and exciting places and meet different kinds of people.  It's all good and well, but with a busy schedule it's hard to find enough time to sit back and get a little bit of the good ol' R & R.

It was totally a lucky break when I recently got invited at the Cav Wine Shop-Cafe in BGC for an exclusive preview party of the Lind Boracay, the newest 5-star hotel in Boracay Islands.  The event featured a sneak peak of the hotels' grand ballroom, lifestyle facilities, function rooms, suites and five different kinds of bars and restaurants, exquisite leisure spots and not to mention the delectable range of fine cuisine. They had selected some of their special dishes served at the party too and let me tell you, they were so delicious!

A lot of my favorite people made their appearances at the party as well. Models LA Aguinaldo, Tola Orendain, Miko Raval and Raph Robes, actress Angel Aquino, fashion designer and friend Rajo Laurel, My Home Magazine Editor-in-Chief Nix Alanon, and Preview Editor-in-Chief Isha Andaya-Valles all got to share a sneak peak of The Lind Boracay with me. And of course, I couldn't forget the people I met at the party who were part of The Lind Boracay's success -- Managing Director Daryl Tan, Resident Manager Cecille Teodoro, and Assistant Director of Sales and Marketing Nico Estrella were all so friendly and accommodating.

I had such a great time at the Lind Preview Party. And the best part of this was when I truly got to see and experience The Lind Boracay for myself. Oh! And I almost forgot! I was so jealous of when Miko Raval won a free trip to the Lind Boracay at their raffle draw. Aww.. Miko, you're so lucky! 

I thought I would die of jealousy, but then I got to try The Lind Boracay for myself! Huh! So excited to share that with you in my next post.  

You can find The Lind Boracay in Station 1 of the magnificent island of Boracay.

The tropical Lind paradise needs the perfect tropical flare for her debut!

Came in a bit early, just can't wait to get the party started!

For some reason, this gives me a feeling like I'll be having cocktails by the beach.

Dimming the lights! The Preview Party is about to start.

Team The Lind Boracay

This is as close as I could get to The Lind for now.

The handsome Miko Raval and Raph Robes

Fashionistas Isha Andaya-Valles and Rajo Laurel

My lovely friends Angellete Calero, Anton Barretto and Bernice Palanca-Go

The Lind Boracay party guests groupie shot! Miko! Why aren't you smiling?

The Spa Managing Director Tanya Tan has a surprise for the lucky winners of the raffle draw!

Gerald Tiu, Tanya Tan, yours truly, Daryl Tan and Rajo Laurel

Team Spa Wellness with actress Angel Aquino

My fashionista friend Rajo Laurel

My Home Magazine Editor-in-Chief Nix Alañon

That guy at the middle, the very talented Francis Libiran, actually designed the uniform of The Lind Boracay employees!

 Luck raffle draw winners Tola Orendain and Gregory Yang (center & right) won a free trip to The Lind Boracay!

Travel Enthusiast Ethelberg Go with the Lind Boracay's Cecille Teodoro, Margaux Hontiveros and Nico Estrella

 The Lind Boracay meets Peninsula Manila

Had a great time! Thank you again Team Lind Boracay!

Wilkins teaches safety hacks for moms

They say that  a mother's love and devotion starts and continues to grow even before her child is born.  Delicate yet strong, a mother's love is truly a remarkable feeling for a child.

Now I may not be an official mother, but I am as much as a second mom to my nieces and nephews. You could say I'm a part of a number of mother's Circle of Trust, their go-to trusted group when it comes to matters concerning their kids. Like their mommies, I want them to have the best things in life with their safety also in-check. That's why when Wilkins Distilled Water set up a Safety Hacks for Moms workshop last October 26, 2015 I was really eager to attend. After all, I am a very hands-on aunt.

The event took place at Unit 27 Bar & Cafe at BGC. It was quite a small place but I thought it was a perfect setting as it brought a more intimate and casual touch where doting moms and aunts like me could share their joys of family life and motherhood. The pretty preggy Delamar Arias who was the host for this Wilkins event was very charming and witty and she really helped make the event fun for all of us there. She had us help her demonstrate some DIY safety hacks we could use especially for toddlers and babies such as foam insulator pipe cut outs to use as edge-guards for sharp edged tables, chairs and beds. The cut outs could also double as door stoppers to help keep kids from slamming their fingers on the doors and keeping them from locking themselves inside the rooms.

If you have stairs in your home and your kids keep running up and about them at playtime, it's more likely they'll scatter and mark their territories with the toys and trinkets they use. So another safety hack you could use to keep your stairs clutter free is to put a few baskets on the corners of the steps and train your little ones to put their clutter in the baskets whenever they see them lying around the stairs or the house. Make it fun and look like a finding-things-game to encourage your kids to participate and remember it on their own.

On the more natural side, did you know that vinegar can be a handy kitchen condiment when you use it for your kids' minor burns? It can also keep them blister-free! Coconut oil can soothe sunburns and prevent infection in small cuts as well. And among the many miracles that baking soda can do, if you mix it with water it can be an easy recipe for a nasty splinter wound on your kids. Inexpensive and quick, right?

This is one of my favorites -- if you're feeling a bit creative and artsy, another safety hack you can work on is the sock grips. Get small fabric paint draw them under the sole area of their socks and wait for them to dry. Afterwards, let your kids wear them inside the house and viola! Slip-proof socks! You can do the same with shoes by lining the sole areas with a hot glue-gun.

If you have picky eaters at home, and we all know that a lot of our kids are, then a really fun and clever hack you can do to encourage your little ones to eat healthy is to make bento meals. A panda, rice ball with veggie eyes, a fruits flower, or carrot smileys are just as delicious to their hungry mouths as they are to their eyes. But don't stop at just being creative, focus always on being safe. Remember to wash your hands before preparing meals, use only clean utensils, and wash all ingredients to be used.

And of course, we must never forget when we have safe and healthy food to serve our children, safe drinking water is just as important. It's always handy to have bottles of trusted safe drinking water. And when we talk about safe drinking water, only one brand comes to mind - Wilkins. Most recommended by moms and prescribed by pediatricians, Wilkins makes sure that the water you and your family drink is always safe and clean. Especially when we're out with them in the park, at the mall, at resorts, etc. and they'd be running around and letting all their energy loose and I'm pretty sure afterwards they'll be coming back to us with red thirsty faces.

The Wilkins Safety Hacks for Moms event was really a happy and educational experience. Especially the D.I.Y. part! Thank you, Wilkins!

Me, the 'Proud Tita,' going home with a Wilkins Safety Kit

Mom and actress Nikki Valdez

Beauty professional and expecting mom Isabel Roces

Model mom Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez

Pretty and perky mom Andi Manzano-Reyes  

Lovely mommas Andi Manzano-Reyes, Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez and Isabel Roces

My dear friend Marissa Lopa

Wilkins Squadgoals: iMarketing Manager Jacinto Miguel Gervasio, Senior Media & Connections Manager Gen Aquino, Category Marketing Manager Teejae Sonza, Senior IMC Manager Nikki Benitez and Wilkins Group Brand Manager Criselle Villafuerte

Happy Wilkins mommas Louise Fandino, Ginger Arboleda and Jackie Go

The witty, pretty and preggy VJ Delamar Arias hosting the event

Excited for the Wilkins safety hack activities! 

Wilkins safety hack activity: Emergency Bracelet

Mommies Andi Manzano-Reyes, Isabel Roces and Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez

Me and the pretty Nikki Valdez

Mommy Ginger Arboleda

Andi Manzano-Reyes ready for the D.I.Y. safety hacks

Wilkins Safety Hacks Workshop with mommy host Delamar Arias!

Andi designing pretty pink socks for her little Olivia 

Andi, Isabel and Mikaela really having fun with the sock grip activity!

Mikaela finishing her cute sock grip design for her precious baby-to-be

Great job, Andi! I HEART those socks!

Blue-tastic design by Isabel Roces. How cute!

Yellow and pink go so well toe-gether! Designed by my lovely friend, Donna Cuna-Pita

Ha! I'm also making my sock grip masterpiece

Whoops! I haven't finished yet.

Pastels are perfect for baby girls. Love it, Nikki! 

Delamar and mommy blogger making fun and yummy bento meals! My nieces and nephews would love these!

Wilkins Circle of Trust: Nikki Valdez, Lai Reyes, Nikki Sindiong, Donna Cuna-Pita, Andi Manzano-Reyes, Isabel Roces, Mikaela Lagdameo-Martinez and yours truly!

Lots of ready safe Wilkins distilled drinking water