YASURAGI BAGUIO WITH MOMMY (2018)

While planning our BAGUIO TRIP last December, we were all seriously deciding our itinerary because we want everything to be perfect with my Mommy. Of course, besides the places to go, we were all thinking hard about the restaurants we'll eat in.

Big problem though -- as much as we wanted to try all of the top restaurants in BAGUIO, we always go back to our favorites (Sizzling Steak, O Mai Khan, Glenn's Diner... ). AS IN PAULIT-ULIT KAMI!!!

Finally, we all mustered the strength to try out something new. We got some recommendations from friends which we all wanted to go to. However, due to the HORRENDOUS TRAFFIC that holiday weekend, we ended up in this humble Japanese restaurant that seemed to be so far from the busy and noisy streets of BAGUIO.

YASURAGI!

In the end, we were all glad that the jammed roads led us to this quiet home that served delicious and affordable Japanese food. And with this wonderful discovery (that is surely a must-try for everyone), we have another restaurant to add to our BAGUIO list that will ALWAYS be on rotation for us.

He he he he he he!!!! 

Yohoo!!!!

Like I mentioned above, YASURAGI was like a house converted into a restaurant. The great thing too was that it was inside a mini-compound so there were parking spaces available that was (somewhat) far from the honking roads of BAGUIO that weekend.

O MAI KHAN MONGOLIAN WITH MOMMY (2018)

I know! I know! I've had a LOT of O MAI KHAN blogs already (2 in fact) and I should be stopping because we are just eating the same things at the same time (dinner).

HOWEVER.....

I have always said that my blogations is more of an online diary where I want to jot every special memory that happens. Eh, for this BAGUIO TRIP, we are with my Mommyowzers, her first time with us and her first BAGUIO TRIP in a looooooooooong time pa, so I really wanted to record EVERYTHING that we do with her.

And of course, one of the goals in our weekend is to have her taste our favorite food in BAGUIO.

Enter O MAI KHAN (again and again.... )

WOHOOO!!!

May isang tao o, beautiful eyes pa!

ELEMENTS BUFFET BREAKFAST (NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL BAGUIO)

While I was deciding where to stay in our BAGUIO TRIP, my kumareng Gail recommended that I check out NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL. She said that the rooms rates were reasonable and that the beds were big. She added that breakfast was included in the booking and it was delicious!!!

Oooooh. Really now????

So I booked because of all of those reasons and was generally happy with the hotel when we checked in.

Lo and behold, the FOOD ALPHABET family was also staying there for the weekend and I learned that it's actually their second time there. Of course I asked how they found the hotel and they gave me the same answer: room rates were reasonable and the beds were big. But what really put a twinkle in my kumpareng pogi's eyes was when he said "Breakfast IS included and it was great!!!"

Aba dalawa na nagsasabi non ah!!!!

So I went down with my family hungry and excited for our breakfast in NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL. It was, of course, my favorite meal of the day (besides and dinner and lunch... Ha ha ha ha).

How did I find it? Read below and see. You'll all see!!!!!!!

:P

The breakfast in NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL was served in their restaurant, ELEMENTS.

Checking their buffet rates, I'd say that the prices are indeed very reasonable. 

NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL BAGUIO

THE YAPPY BUNCH were going to BAGUIO to have a pre-birthday celebration for the bunsoy Andrei and while we were planning it, he requested to for his Lola, my Mom, to join us.

That's great!!! I thought to myself. I was really planning on treating my Mommy to join us in BAGUIO and it felt good that my own son was thinking of the same thing.

Yup! My boys love their Lola (and Lolo Pogi - rip) soooo much!!!!

So when we were plotting our itinerary and planning our BAGUIO trip, we looked for hotels that would comfortably accommodate my family. We already stayed in  somebody's house, GRAND SIERRA PINES, and CHALET HOTEL, so we wanted to try something else.

When I was deciding where to go, my bunsoy whispered if it was okay to get his own bed. He said since it was his (pre) birthday celebration, maybe he doesn't have to share with his Kuya even just this once. Okay I said. I thought since my Mom will be joining us, it would be better to get a separate room for her anyways.

When asking around, my Mareng Gail recommended that I check out NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL. She stayed there before and loved the spacious rooms, queen-sized beds, the heated pool, and the buffet breakfast! The best part too was that it was super affordable.

SOLD! He he he he he!

I checked out NEWTOWN PLAZA HOTEL online and saw that yes, booking two rooms for two nights was still within my budget. I was glad too that even if it was a long weekend, there were still rooms available for us.

So YAYY! We're booked and ready to go!

Another great thing was that I discovered our good friends THE FOOD ALPHABET family also made reservations in the same hotel that weekend.

See? Everything was meant to be.

(Ang OA... he he he).

:P 

We're here in NEWTOWN!!!!

Haaaaay! FINALLY after 11 hours!!!

Yup! I won't stop ranting about it.

BAGUIO TRIP WITH MOMMY 2018 (PART TWO)

THE YAPPY BUNCH were in BAGUIO, our second time this year, to treat my Mom and to have a pre-birthday celebration for my bunsoy baby Androse. BAGUIO has always been one of my happy places because I remember how when I was a kid, my Dad brought the whole family here for our first official getaway. It was truly one of my most unforgettable family trips ever that even our simple activities (traveled via Victory Liner, stayed in a hotel, rode taxis, went horseback riding, etc) already gave us the most wonderful and heart-warming memories.

For our BAGUIO trip this December, I could safely declare that it will be one for the books even if we haven't arrived yet! Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Well for one, we were stuck for a record breaking 11 hours on the road (Yup! Parang nagUS na din kami!) but we were able to prove that as long as you're with the best company (my family and Mommy!!!) EVERYTHING will still go right!!!!!

When we arrived in BAGUIO, traffic was still horrible. HOWEVER, by some stroke of luck (or the work of our guardian angel perhaps?) our drive was not as bad compared to the others. So yay! We were able to go to the places that we initially planned to and happy that we got to share our family activities with my Mommyowzers.

Check out part two of our December BAGUIO TRIP! It really goes on to show that when you're with the people you love, you'll still have an awesome time no matter what.

Yayyy!!

After THE LOURDES GROTTO, we went straight to THE MANSION!!!!

"Facundo! Ilabas ang mga kabayo! Ngayon din!"

He he he he he he!

BAGUIO TRIP WITH MOMMY 2018 (PART ONE)

WOHOOO!!! We're going to BAGUIO!!!

I know that many of you will be saying "BAGUIO AGAIN??? Anak ng...." And honestly, I have also contemplated if I am going to blog about our 3 day trip or not because it's already our second time this year. But for this one though, we are going with my Mommy, and I am positive that this is something I want to document here.

Siguro naman by now you have an idea that my blog is my online diary and not really for monetary purposes right? He he he he he!!!

My Mom is a doctor and she devoted her life to my Dad and the family. She and Daddyowzers were so in love and is one of the sweetest couples I know. They always went out on dates (as in A LOT OF DATES... baka nagbibiglang liko na I don't know... ha ha ha ha! Kidding) and would always do the HHWW (Holding Hands while Walking).  I swear, they're my role models. Yun lang, they don't do many out of Manila trips because of the family business. It's okay. Mommy naman din is just fine staying home with all of us. And if my Daddy is not with her, she'll not go out din.

After my Daddy passed away ( :( ), we were all worried for my Mom because she's sooooo used to him always being there. Now,  my siblings and I really make it a point to not leave her home alone and take her with us. The touching thing too is that even the boys Mati and Andrei don't like leaving their Lola alone. My Mom of course would tell us that she's fine and to not mind her. I'm sure she's okay (she's one of the strongest ladies I know) but we just don't want to. Period. I'm sure my Daddy wouldn't want us to leave his true love behind.

When she agreed to go with us in our BAGUIO TRIP we were so happy (Yup! It's our new tradition to go there every December as one of Andrei's bday celebrations). We really wanted to treat her in the City of Pines because I think the last time she was there was when we were snotty kids (one of my most memorable trips EVER).

So yes, I'll blog about this December BAGUIO TRIP because it will be a VERY special one for me. I want to remember every moment about it because we will be with the number one lady of our lives.

My Mommy!!!!!!!!!!!

And, expect many more blogs about our BAGUIO TRIPS in the future too (hopefully) with my Mommyowzers!!!

We woke up super early so that we'll leave for Baguio at 4:00am!

SIZZLING PLATE AGAIN (BAGUIO 2018)

In BAGUIO CITY, we have encountered favorites that we know we'll go back to again and again. And one of them is SIZZLING PLATE.

In our 2018 trip to BAGUIO, we returned once more to SIZZLING PLATE but tried their other more spacious branch which was reminiscent of what (I remember) a steakhouse should be -- an open air homey restaurant with that log cabin design. There were no loud music or singing bands (or waiters?? He he he he); whatever noise pollution was drowned out by the appetizing sizzling sounds of gravy being poured over the big slabs of steak.

We strongly recommended SIZZLING PLATE to our friends Team Campo that when we were deciding where to have our late lunch, it was the only choice. And, as expected, they loved it. They had the same satiated but happy smiles like we had the first time we ate there.

I know that there are other affordable steaks in the Metro, and that there are other more popular restaurants in BAGUIO. But in SIZZLING PLATE, you get quality cuts of tender beef smothered in savory gravy at at a very affordable price. Your meal becomes more enjoyable too because you have the mountain breeze and pine trees as your "side dishes."

Yup! SIZZLING PLATE will ALWAYS be part of our BAGUIO itinerary. It will always be where we'll go to in the City of Pines for our meat cravings that's affordable at the same time.

YAY!

SIZZLING PLATE!!!!!!

This SIZZLING PLATE branch was bigger compared to the one in Session Road. What's great too is that it had ample parking spaces.

O MAI KHAN AGAIN (BAGUIO 2018)

The YAPPY BUNCH are back in one of our happy places in the colder side of the Philippines....

BAGUIO CITEEEEEH....!!!!!!!

The Yub and I love BAGUIO because of the green surroundings in the eternally cold weather. We're happy that the kids are also appreciating BAGUIO as much as we do and don't mind going back again and again. I guess it's because, since we find joy in their happiness, we left them in charge of our itinerary:

Andrei schedules our activities such as horseback riding and go-karting.

As for Mati, he decides on where we will be eating.

Even before we left for BAGUIO Master Mati already declared that we should eat in O MAI KHAN again. He really savored the bowls of Mongolian fried rice before and was very excited to have several rounds of the "make-your-own" goodness again.

And since the menu is not just delicious but very affordable, we're SO game to go back too!

ONE MORE REASON WHY WE LOVE BAGUIO! He he he he he he!

We're in O MAI KHAN!!! YAY!

Unlike last time, we went to O MAI KHAN earlier (at about 7:00pm) because we wanted to have more time to enjoy their Mongolian buffet (which ends at 9:00pm). 

CHALET BAGUIO HOTEL BREAKFAST (2018)

THE YAPPY BUNCH had an impromptu vacation in the City of Pines and was able to book a holiday weekend in CHALET BAGUIO HOTEL. What appealed to us in this simple lodge-like place was that it was affordable, ghost-free, and most importantly, available for our late booking. As we were checking their website we discovered that our accommodations also included free dinners AND breakfast for 2 pax.

HUWAW! Isn't that cool???

Breakfast is already my favorite meal of the day but to have it free and in buffet form? It will definitely make any kind of vacation more special. He he he he he he!

I know I'm OA but yeah breakfast does that to me. It's the meal I swear I could NEVER get full from. If it had the premise of not getting me fat and full of cholesterol, I would have breakfast for HOURS.

Check out the enjoyable 2-day breakfast that we had in CHALET BAGUIO HOTEL! It was certainly enough to make us happy and energized for the whole day!

Let's have brekky in CHALET BAGUIO HOTEL!!!!

Their buffet breakfast was served at San Marcelino Hall.

A CHALET HOTEL BAGUIO WEEKEND (2018)

Summer vacation was about to end and THE YAPPY BUNCH was not yet prepared to bid the little lords back to school. Of course we value the purpose of private education but we were having so much fun with the boys at home and going out whenever we can for foodtrips or meet-ups that we'll really be sad once the grueling schoolyear starts again.

With that, we originally planned to go to a beach in La Union with some friends and we have already booked the resort ahead of time. However, when that didn't push through so close to our planned dates, my friend suggested to go to BAGUIO instead.

HALA! Could we still get a hotel when we only got a week left before our planned trip??? To think that we were planning to go on a long holiday weekend???

We checked online and found out that our favorite BAGUIO hotels were already fully booked. Upon more searching, the ones available had rotten reviews and looked like accommodations for moomoo!!!  But we were not ready to give up! Our minds were all so set to have one last getaway with the kiddies this year before school starts.

Still studying our options online, we came upon CHALET HOTEL BAGUIO. It was a simple hotel that was priced affordably and still had a few rooms available. We checked the reviews and saw that it was safe for families, the rooms were said to be clean, and, MOST IMPORTANTLY, there were no claims of moomoo. It was great too that besides breakfast, dinner for 2pax per day was also included.

YUP! SOLD!!! Now hopefully we'll still have an enjoyable stay in BAGUIO even if it was not our first choice.

And you know what? We certainly did!!!!!!!!!!!

BAGUIO TRIP PART TWO (2018)

THE YAPPY BUNCH are in an impromptu summer weekend in BAGUIO, and though we were doing and eating the same thing as our last trip, we were all having loads of fun.

To think that it was raining pa ah!!!!!!

We were supposed to go to a resort in La Union with Team Campo but since that didn't push through and we already had a beach trip in Anvaya Cove, it was suggested that we go for BAGUIO instead.

Hmmmm... Have a family trip in BAGUIO, our new favorite vacation spot? We're super game to that! ALWAYS!

With that, we immediately booked the hotel and made an itinerary of our places to go. Now even if we planned to go to other popular spots, we stayed too long in our favorites that we didn't have time for our original plans anymore.

OH WELL!!!! More reasons to come back then! He he he he he!

But as they say, time flies when you're having fun. And as long as we see our little lords happy, then this impromptu vacation doing the same things is more sulit than ever.

Check out PART TWO of our (rainy) summer trip to BAGUIO!!!!

For our late lunch that Saturday we went to our favorite SIZZLING STEAKHOUSE!!!

GLENN 50's DINER AGAIN (BAGUIO 2018)

THE YAPPY BUNCH just arrived in BAGUIO CITY and we were all excited to officially start our vacation.

Of course, when we say "officially" it means it's time to eat ASAP in our favorite BAGUIO restaurants.

And first on our list is the fun, cheap, yet delicious GLENN 50'S DINER!!!! 

We love diners and diners love us!!!!!!




After a 4 hour drive, THE YAPPY BUNCH met up with Team Campo!

BAGUIO TRIP PART ONE (2018)

These days I'm not that enthusiastic with planning international trips for THE YAPPY BUNCH because not only is it very costly and tiring but the hassles of booking and airport delays gets me so lazy agad!!!! Auughhh! (I'm getting exhausted just thinking about it!!!!)

It's okay though, because the family has discovered something that already gives us so much happiness here.

BAGUIO! YAY!!!

I'm sure many will object how Baguio is incomparable to Disneyland in the US, to the Coleseo in Rome, to the Temples in Thailand, to the Inari in Japan, (all of which we've been to already. #humblebrag HA!), etc, you may be right but still, there is something to being happy and contented with what you have  that you don't feel the need to leave.

Besides, one of the strong reasons why I personally love BAGUIO is the childhood family memories that I have of it. And now, I feel a different kind of joy that I'm sharing it with the boys.

So really, when people ask me when our next trip abroad is I would always answer "We're already having so much fun with Baguio now that I'm not planning anything else." He he he he! Of course, I'm not entirely blocking out an international family trip soon but that will happen when I'm not lazy to plan na.

Till then, we're so fine with what the City of Pines give us.

Yahooo!!!! 

Wohooo!!! We're in BAGUIO again!!!!!!!!

GRAND SIERRA PINES BUFFET BREAKFAST

THE YAPPY BUNCH were having an ultra fun weekend in BAGUIO while staying at the brand new GRAND SIERRA PINES HOTEL. We had a cozy room and the little lords found fun activities to do here and there.

I have to admit though that what seals the deal for me in hotels are the food. If breakfast was MEH, it would give me enough reason not to book there again.

I'm glad though that in GRAND SIERRA PINES, we had a delicious breakfast that made me excited to get up the next day (which is rare, I promise).

Check out how our mornings were made better (and more delicious) by GRAND SIERRA PINES!  

Wohoo! Let's EAT!

O' MAI KHAN MONGOLIAN BUFFET ( BAGUIO CITY )

We were in BAGUIO CITY having a pre-birthday trip for the bunsoy Andrei, and through-out our stay, we made the little lords happy by doing the activities they liked. However, when it came to our meals, my guys trusted me to choose. They know din naman that I would go for restaurants with the boys in mind.

For our last night in BAGUIO, I recommended to try out  O' MAI KHAN. It's been a looooong time since I've had Mongolian Barbecue (missed the one in Mile Long) and I saw that the restaurant had many items in the menu that the little lords might like.

When the boys asked what they could eat in O' MAI KHAN, I said they could have this and that. But I strongly recommended that they try the Mongolian Barbecue. I described how magical (yes it was to me) a bowl of Mongolian Barbecue was and they were hooked: they got excited to have bowls of this make-your-own fried rice!

And as I hoped, they didn't just like it.. They LOVED it!!

O' MAI KHAN!!!!

The restaurant was so full that dinner time.

BENCAB MUSEUM ( BAGUIO CITY )

THE YAPPY BUNCH were in Baguio for my bunsoy's pre-birthday celebration and while we were doing mostly what the little cutie-pie wished, the Yub and I wanted to go somewhere that we didn't go to in our last trip.

I immediately suggested BENCAB MUSEUM because it would be something different in our itinerary (which was full of horseback riding, biking, boating, and eating! He he he he!). The Yubhub agreed since he has been hearing a lot about the popular art haven and it would be a good experience for the little lords in BAGUIO CITY.

After horseback riding in WRIGHT PARK, we went straight to BENCAB MUSEUM. And though it was a scary (well for me) and looong ride (that we all wanted to go to the bathroom), the trip was indeed worth it!

BENCAB MUSEUM!!!

Going to BENCAB was a bit scary because it was soooo foggy. There was even a time wherein we passed by mountains and we saw the paved landslides. Imaginative me immediately got scared and remembered Superman 1. He he he he he he!

Yayyy! We're in BENCAB finally!

SIZZLING PLATE BAGUIO CITY

The last time we were in BAGUIO with friends, we were supposed to eat in this popular steak restaurant that's so friendly in the budget. Plans didn't push through that time because instead, the Yub opted for GOOD TASTE.

For our second trip though, we have made up our minds that we will really include the steak restaurant that we saw in Session road in our itinerary. And on one fine day, we have finally made it....

SIZZLING PLATE!!!!!

AMARE WOODFIRE BRICK OVEN PIZZA (BAGUIO CITY)

Before our trip to BAGUIO, I was already checking out online recommendations on which restaurants to go to. Of course, as much as we want to visit the popular places, we have to consider if the food will be appetizing for the little lords and if prices were affordable for for us.

My friend BAON FLAT LAYS was in BAGUIO the week before our trip and I saw the places she went to with her family. One restaurant particularly caught my eye because it let their younger diners make their own pizzas. When I asked her about the food she said it was delicious.

Now I'm sold!!!!

With that, the Yub and I really included AMARE WOODFIRE BRICK OVEN PIZZA in our itinerary. We just know that our bunsoy, whose pre-birthday were celebrating, will have a great time.

And we were SO right! 

AMARE WOODFIRE BRICK OVEN PIZZA!

AMARE was located inside a mall and there was a line for the available tables.

There were tables outside but since this was our first time, we wanted to have some AMBIYENSSSSS!

GRAND SIERRA PINES BAGUIO PART TWO

THE YAPPY BUNCH were in Baguio, our second for the year, for Andrei's pre-birthday celebration. And we thought that since we were here for a special occasion, we should also stay somewhere that would ensure the ultra-fun of our little lords.

Great thing that we were able to book at GRAND SIERRA PINES, a new hotel that proudly declared to "redefine your Baguio experience" -- and it was definitely more than what we expected. There were just many family things to do in the hotel that we're always late in doing the Baguio activities that we initially planned to do!

Check out part 2 of our AWESOME stay in GRAND SIERRA PINES. Yep. That's the word that would perfectly describe the unforgettable 3 days and 2 nights in the hotel that gave us a new kind of fun in BAGUIO.

AWESOME.

:)

GRAND SIERRA PINES!!!!!

It was a very cold morning when we work up! Brrrrrr!!!!!!

GRAND SIERRA PINES BAGUIO PART ONE

It was the second BAGUIO trip for THE YAPPY BUNCH this year and I was in search for a hotel that could accommodate us on December -- the city's peak season. Great thing that we checked out GRAND SIERRA PINES, BAGUIO City's new hotel and it had an available room for us. We booked it, paid for it, and got so excited.

We know the little lords would enjoy having another staycation in the City of Pines. As for the me and the Yub, we're looking forward for more quality time with the family and not think about work.

In the end, we're so happy with our stay in GRAND SIERRA PINES. We were pleasantly surprised at how different their accommodations were compared to others that we didn't want to leave our hotel! Well.... almost!

GRAND SIERRA PINES Baguio indeed redefined our Baguio experience. To be honest, now we want to make our City of Pines' trip a yearly thing!!!! 

GRAND SIERRA PINES HOTEL!!!!