You know that song from 1995?

OVERDRIVE.

Magda-drive ako hanggang Baguio
Magda-drive ako hanggang Bicol
Magda-drive ako hanggang Batangas
Tapos magsu-swimming do’n sa beach

Yup, that one from Eraserheads. That and their recent “Sabado” and we scratch the word boring to our weekends.

We recently discovered that day trips are awesome! and cheaper… hence a new category is born: OVERDRIVE

Limited time.. unlimited destinations.. 

For our first overdrive: Pampanga- Bataan. I have never been to Bataan! Itinerary includes: Breakfast at Atching Lillian Borromeo in Mexico Pampanga or at Lapid’s Bakery in Gagua. Lunch in Bataan, then dinner in Everybody’s Cafe in San Fernando.

I do not know what happened, but we’re already travelling the road to Subic..this is not part of the plan!  But I do love this part of the world. Not Subic but the road going there. It reminds me so much of the movie Cars. Go figure.

Where are we heading? Bataan still but via Subic.

We drove around Bataan, stopping from time to time.. OK 3 times only.

3 Things We Did In Bataan:

1. Pawikan Conservation Center

This is a good place to educate the kids about endangered species and care for animals.

They don’t have baby turtles when we arrived but the caretaker mentioned that by November some of the eggs will hatch.

TRIVIA:

• Just a few minutes after an egg hatches, they release it to the ocean.
• It takes 25 years before a Pawikan starts laying eggs.
• It will take 3 years before it lays again.

Pawikan Conservation Center entrance fee is only P20. 

2. Eat at Loleng’s Hu Tieu-an

This is a small food establishment that offers authentic Vietnamese cuisine (they say, I have no idea if it is true or not, that’s the first time I tried Vietnamese food).

How to go to Loleng’s Hu Tieu-an ?

This is near Morong Bataan Church,so just as around when you go to Morong Church.

3. Visit Dambana ng Kagitingin in Mt Samat

After so may winding.. as in a lot! I lost count already!!! We reached Bagac, where the famous Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar is located. Hindi man lang kame nakapag ocular inspection! The Zero Km Death March Marker is also in Bagac.

Another countless winding road and we reached the road to Mt Samat.. which is another countless winding road. I cannot put into writing what I feel about the roads in this side of Bataan.. I don’t want to offend anyone, but most part of this trip, I am holding my breath.

But all that went away as soon as we reached Dambana ng Kagitingan.. pero hindi na kame umakya sa cross no.. mualan na eh.. excuses.excuses. hehehe

OK ladies and gentlemen.. let’s take this opportunity for an obligatory selfie with the cross on the background. bow.

Ay si Dora, kulang pa sa selfie!

After Bataan, our next mission is to look for the famous Lapid’s Bakery in Guagua public market. Mission failed. And we were lost. We drove around Guagua hoping to find the way to San Fernando. It was the most beautiful drive ever..well for me. I think of all the things we did that day, this is the most exciting part for me. We passed by a few old houses in Guagua and each is as charming as the other. My heart belongs to old house. I can spend days and days and days marveling at old houses. It’s one of the reason why I love our North Luzon trips.

I wish I took a photo of the most enchanting/ haunting old house I have seen.. since I did not..I did a few research and here’s what I got (photo and history source)

Built in the 1930’s. It was owned by Doña Juana and Don Alejandro Lopez. In the 1935 telephone directory the house was named as “The Pride of Guagua Pampanga.” When the Japanese invaded the Philippines in 1942, Doña Juana and Don Alejandro left for Manila. Almost all of the houses were burned but the house was spared. A Japanese (Colonel/General) saw the house and occupied it. (Sato/Makato) It was said that the dungeon below the house was used to imprison the filipinos and americans that japanese caught. It was said that some of these prisoners died there because of torture and were left there to die. It is also said that there were tunnels leading to various places in Guagua. It contained several jars(banga) and other artifacts. When the Japanese left the Philippines in 1945 Doña Juana and Don Alejandro went back to the house. And the rest is history. Since the Mt. Pinatubo eruption in 1991 the dungeon was buried in mud.

Sobrang ganda ng bahay na yan sa personal, as in!!! 

We had dinner at Everybody’s Cafe. I am actually looking forward to eating Kapampangan dishes.. ah no, Kapampangan cuisine.. the way they cook their meals.. oily and full of flavor. That kind of dish is nowhere to be found at Everybody’s Cafe. They do sell exotic though, like Frog and Kamaro, other than that, there is nothing special here..

side note: mas masarap pa ang luto ko

I’ll definitely be back in Pampanga, to look for that Bakery and to try Atching Lillian dishes.. and to marvel at old houses..

and though Bataan is winding up there, I’d still go back! Masarap daw cashew nuts doon eh. 

Where will be our next overdrive? Suggest a place!

Cabanatuan City has been our home for like 15+ years. Our clan was from Talavera.. but you know, you gotta move from time to time hehe

15 loong years..my family is living in the city and it was only recently that we discovered the beauty that lies in the city.

First stop. Microtel Inn and Suites.

My mom lives in an apartment in Cabanatuan… and of course, we usually stay with her when we visit. This time was different though, it was my ate’s wedding! And the heat (it happened end of May)..OMG! the heat! I cannot  imagined doing my ate’s make up under that kind of heat. So, we decided to stay at Microtel to prevent the heat from damaging my ate’s make up.. of course to have some fun too! Swimming! Swimming!

Cabanatuan maybe a City but you won’t find a lot of hotels with swimming pool.. that’s actually the reason why we chose Microtel, for the pool.

I love our room because it’s big and can accommodate my big family! And Microtel is not strict with the number of kids that can stay with their parents.. plus plus points for Microtel for that!

Another thing that I love about them coffee and water is unlimited! and kids eat for FREE! For breakfast that is, if they would just eat cereals, you don’t have to pay. If kids would eat what is offered in the buffet area, well you have to pay 100+.. Now that’s what I don’t like with Microtel. THE FOOD! I wish they could offer more “probinsya” kind of food. It would have been better if they offer their guests traditional Novo Ecijano food.

Or maybe, one of the reason why they don’t offer authentic Novo Ecijano dishes is because there are already so many food establishments in Cabanatuan City. And most of them are really really good! I always expect that my diet will be ruined whenever we visit this city.

One restaurant that we haven’t tried before and wish we did is Hapag Vicenticos.. as I have mentioned, we have been living in this city for 15 years and it was only this year that we got to try Hapag Vicenticos! syeeet!! sayang ang mga taon!!

And here’s why…

Interiors!!! oh my!! every corner is snap worthy!

Bonggay di ba! pang throwback Thursday ang peg! Kulang na lang barong tagalog at baro’t saya!

Of course the food!

Unfortunately, noong kumain kame, sold out ang Crispy Pata.. I am taking it a sign na DAPAT bumalik kame!! hahaha

O di ba turistang turista ang peg!

O sinong tiga Cabanatuan diyan? May namiss ba ako? Ano pa ang pwedeng dalawin sa bayan natin?

Going on holiday with your family is all about having a good time together. But let’s face it; travelling with your kids can be stressful. Wherever you choose to go out of the many available family holiday destinations, there are a few things you can do to minimise the headaches of a family vacation.

Go all-inclusive

One way to reduce the stress of a family holiday is to not have to worry about keeping track of the costs as you go along. Cheap all inclusive holidays are ideal options for vacationers who want to achieve ahassle-free and fun family getaway. With an all-inclusive trip, you pay one price upfront and all your accommodation and meals are included. The price can also include activities and excursions.

Get your medical details sorted

At least two months prior to your trip, go and see your family GP. Explain your plans and ask for advice. You may need to get some vaccinations or get extra prescriptions for medications. If your child has an allergy, it is a good idea to print out a card that specifies the allergies, in case you do need to seek medical attention while away.

Prepare the kids

Talk to the kids in the weeks before you trip to prepare them for what’s to come. This could involve looking at maps or researching the animal life in your destination. You could also try cooking them similar cuisine to that which they’ll taste on holiday. Another good idea is to have the children start a holiday journal. This gives them something to do on planes, in cars and when you just want some downtime – it also makes for a great memento.

Book flights wisely

If possible book night flights so that you will be in transit when your children are normally asleep. This not only helps keep them calm on the flight, but reduces the impact of jetlag when you arrive. Avoid stopovers as well, so you are not hanging around an airport for too long getting bored.

Pack light

Remember that you’ll have to look after the kids’ luggage as well as your own, so pack light. Get them to choose one toy to take on the ‘adventure’, so you don’t have to lug a whole menagerie around with you.

Family holidays are fun. But they also have their own particular stresses. Use the tips above to keep them to a minimum and you and your family will be able to enjoy your vacation to the max.