#beaches near metro manila

[jopetkasi]

i saw this picture from facebook. it is somewhere in Abra. see the beautiful mountain range? that is Sierra Nadre I was told. Picture perfect, right? I was told properties in that place are not pricey. a friend gave me some estimates and when i checked my bank account I could buy naman a decent-sized lot and build a nice house with a backyard where my dogs can run around.

Plus, from Abra I can visit places in Northern Luzon like La Union, Vigan, Pagudpud and the Cagayan areas on a road trip.

There is also the option to live in Zambales. Although my grandparents have a property in Cabangan, I think I should get my own place. The thing here is, property prices are steadily rising as Zambales is becoming more popular given it is near Metro Manila. On top of that, there is the problem of duplicate land titles used by scammers, so one must be cautious when buying.

on one side, my dear friend, fatima, decided to ditch the city and opted to relocate in Zambales. in her own words, this is her "beach life" era. Indeed, the bitch is living her best life as time does not control her as she paces her daily routine the way she sees it: morning walks by the sea, biking along scenic places, and eating fresh produce.

which now brings me to ask myself, can I now live my own life the way I really want it?

If you were to ask me, I do so want to move and start anew. I need a place by the sea if not, a farm I would settle. I don't mind planting vegetables and raising chickens for my sustenance. I would like to waste time by the beach and ride the bike around town and nearby places. I want time to slow because life is too short and I want to enjoy every moment and adventure it has to offer.

[joshleyson]

JULY DUMP PT. 1 // Last July for me was a hectic, whirlwind kind of a month but in a good and a very refreshing way. I was fortunate enough to take paid time off for 3 weeks (imagine that!) to basically reconnect with my good old friends all the way in Zamboanga and also be able to do what I always love doing which is going to the beach trips and eat my heart out. Though I have to endure six flights in those three weeks going back and forth to Zamboanga - Boracay - Bohol and flying back to Manila in between, I feel like those days were like the longest days of my life.

I flew to Zamboanga and spent 3 days there attending a close friend’s wedding as one of the groom’s men and I’m so happy that I get to have a staycation with them. Keyword: Low maintenance friendships! My heart is full as we share our peaks and valleys and hear their stories in the eight years that we’ve never seen each other after we graduated college. It reminds me how important it is to surround yourself with the right people, especially in one of those crucial moments in your life that somehow plays a big factor that determines your destiny and the career that you want to achieve. Also, seeing my friend tie the knot reminds me how 8 years can sometimes feel like a snap of a finger.

☾

I went back to Manila just to unpack some of my things and flew right away back to Boracay. Going to the island in July is a hit or miss. Since it’s a rainy season, there’s a possibility that the weather could just ruin everything. But just like before when I also went to the island in the same month, I am so lucky that the sun was up and burning like a thousand fires that evoked an extended summer vibe. The blue waves, white sand and lush coconut trees never get old for me. I must say a legit chill place no matter how much some people would tag the island as somewhat overrated. I don’t care. LOL. This is like my 5th time on this island but I would say this one is quite special. I get to stay longer which is almost a week and I booked a 4-star hotel all for myself. A total self-care spree where I never really thought about work or anything from Manila but just me enjoying the beach and the scenery while also rereading a book called “The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle which you may want to explore especially when you’re traveling like being stuck in an airport for example. Though the book has concepts and insights that I find myself to be resisting on, somehow it was a great companion guide in my trips as it talks about living in the now and being present more than ever.

☾

(Obligatory jump shot in Bohol’s man-made forest. I thought this was a park! But this is actually a public highway with highspeed vans and busses so take a pic at your own risk ⚠️ )

After a week in Boracay, I flew back to Manila to work for like 3 days and went straight to Bohol and also stayed there for a week in a very peaceful villa near Alona Beach in Panglao. Such a famous tourist destination but I have actually never been there before. But I’m gonna save my Bohol adventure in the next blog posts soon as I’m a bit of a slow burner and a slacker at the same time in terms of blogging things. This blog post was just made out of necessity as I have free time today. I still have a regular job that I need to attend to finance and to be able to do this again in the future! Come on! LOL I don’t have that much expectation when I went there as I was still in Boracay high with my already sunburnt skin but I enjoyed the trip so much. Seeing Chocolate hills and being able to drive an ATV around there was so much fun aside from frying my skin even more with their beautiful, blue-watered beaches. Definitely balik balik sa Bohol as what locals always say.

☾

I documented this 3-week adventure in a Kodak film camera and I’m very excited as well how they will turn out. I never felt so refreshed after wandering to these places and just being able to disconnect from the busy life in the Metro. It was truly another humbling experience and makes me want to work hard, even more, to be able to do this again! :) Oop. I think I wrote too much for what was supposed to be a quick proof of life update. I definitely don’t have time and the energy to proofread this so apologies for my incoherent relay of stream of consciousness. What you have just read is just me being grateful in summary. *Queue star-crossed album by Kacey Musgraves*

Sunburnt but still wearing my SPF 30s every day,

J. 

(Photos of cute and friendly local cats. Today is International Cats Day! 🐱 On the left is Colby from a local hostel bar in Boracay and on the right from Virgin Island in Bohol)

☾

Connect with me  IG & Twitter @joshleyson 

[travellocal]

Patungan Beach trip - Quick escape from Metro Manila

It’s ideal for us to go on a beach trip near the city but far away from polluted air, noise pollution, and crowded places. You will not believe that there are beaches located not too far from the metro. Many people may not know about them. There is an extremely outstanding place located just hours away from the city. This place is situated in Maragondon, Cavite isolated from the commotion of Manila lies in Patungan Beach. The destination was remote but accessible by a different vehicle. This place is still developing but remains undiscovered by many. What makes people bewitch the beach? Crystal clear waters and eye-popping rock formation. It is budget- friendly and eco-friendly too. You can wander into other neighboring islands to discover some of its hidden beauty. It may not be as developed as the white sand of Boracay but this island needs to consider if you want to unwind and relax.

Written by: Ecil Repiso

[kierzenanika]

My Journey in Batangas ✨

The City of Batangas, Batangas has many fine beach resorts that most families go to in certain occasions like christmas, new year, summer. Especially because most of the resorts there are neat, has class and their sands are usually white which most people find pleasing. Batangas is the most popular tourist destination near Metro Manila. Traveling is my favorite thing to do but Batangas is the most cleanest and beautiful cities i have visited. Because of batangas, I already witnessed the different beauty of nature.

In April 17, 2023 me with my family first travelled Batangas, it takes 2-3hrs before we get there. Actually, it's not my first time in batangas but it's my first time to travel with my family. We went to a beach resort that has those qualities; we tried the island hopped and the islands were also beautiful, so we took our chances and took a lot of pictures of the place, taking pictures of those beautiful sand, trees and the sunset. It was very exciting and adventurous, we learnt to enjoy these new experiences because my family loves beach. Also, we rented a good cabin and stayed there for a few days it was overall a very relaxing experience that me and my family loved. We enjoyed my experience in batangas, and will forever cherish those every moments that i had never done before. For me, an excellent place to stay in Batangas is Lemery, we also had an excellent experience in our vacation there in Lemery Batangas. Our money and time spent well and it's worth it. Traveling is the best way to spend a memorable moment with my famil, and Batangas is a place that will give you a beautiful moments with your loved ones, and worth visiting because of that beautiful and calm places.

[snugsodium]

Hiking Trails in Cavite

Are you and your family looking for meaningful and ever-active activities to do during the trip this upcoming summer? Aside from taking a swim on a wondrous beach in Batangas, visiting the many museums Manila has, or visiting Hong Kong to buy clothes to revamp your wardrobe, how about adding hiking in Cavite to your list of summer to-dos?

Especially if you are aiming to be in touch with nature again, or you just merely want to rest and take a break from the busy streets of Metro Manila or you want to take advantage of the strategic location of your Dasmarinas Cavite lot for sale has having a relaxing adventure in nearby mountains of our lush country would definitely do the trick.

[poolofthoughtsbyclaire]

03/15 ENTRY: late night thoughts

This photo was taken from one of the beaches in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte during our family vacation last 2016. I remember having to finish my thesis defense in the morning before leaving for this vacation. Luckily, our professors were kind enough to keep their questions minimal so my group could finish immediately before I miss my flight. My uncle picked me up at the school at that time, dropped me off at home to change and get my things then rushed me to the airport with his bike. He drove so fast that the 30mins ride to airport was cut to 15mins. And yes, I made it before boarding time. My family was already there at the boarding gate waiting for me. And since, they were the last ones to check-in, we were seated at the back part of the plane.

We departed from hometown around lunchtime and arrived at Manila by the afternoon. We strolled around MOA, one of the largest shopping mall in the Asia, and checked-in somewhere near our meet-up place for the Ilocos tour. Oh, here in PH, tour packages are like the go-to-option if you want to travel and visit number of tourist spots on a budget.

The travel from the Metro to the province was like 12 hours! My fucking butt felt like its burning. We had multiple stop overs to get some food and use the comfort room. Like hello?! Who can even hold their pee for that long?! I remember when my father joked that the drivers were might on drugs cus they were able to stay up and drive for that long and fast LOL!

Anyways, the story behind the picture kinda went a long way from the words written in the photo. Arent related but I couldnt find other beach photos that could relate to the things running through my head right now and I kinda saw this photo whilst I was scrolling through my IG account (Yes, I stalk myself. So?), so I used this photo instead.

[angieesorilo17]

ANGELINE JOY SORILO

12 HUMSS

Mrs. Clarice sison

My choosen creative non fiction is the place or province of BATANGGAS

This is the province of Batanggas. Batanggas is one of the most best tourist spots because its near in Metro Manila. It is home to well-know Taal Volcano, and one of the decade volacano. The province also has nomerous number of beaches and diving spot.

This is the taal lake. The taal lake is the lake that is near in taal volcano.

Batanggas is the second largest international seaport in the Philippines after metro manila. The identification of the city as an industrial growth center on the region. And being the focal point of the CALABARZON.

This is the view of taal volcano, taal volcano is one of the in-active volcano. The last time it erup is on January 2020. it is the time when the pandemic starts.

The taal volcano is in the batanggas . This is also the reason why all the Filipino's want to go batanggas. Also the banyaga's and foreigners because they also love the province and the place of batanggas.

The batanggas are founded in the 19th century. The batanggas is in the Philippines part of the province in CALABARZON region in Luzon. Poetically, batanggas is often referred to by its ancient name kumintáng.

[anistransport0]

Explore the Philippines and Metro Manila with this Guide!

Tour of the Philippines - Where to Visit

La Union: A coastal province of Luzon island, a 167 mile drive north from Metro Manila. La Union is renowned for its legendary beaches, surf spots, hikes, and hostels. It’s a common weekend trip for folks in Metro Manila, as it is for Cory and the band at the end of the book.

Cordillera: A mountainous province of northern Luzon, where indigenous peoples resisted hundreds of years of colonial rule. Cordillera is home to the famous Banaue Rice Terraces, hand-carved by hundreds of years of inhabitants.

Palawan: The westernmost archipelago of the Philippines, home to gorgeous marine reserves, coral reefs, UNESCO world heritage sites, and rare wildlife.

Batanes: The northernmost archipelago of the Philippines, a region with the smallest population and land area. Batanes is home to stunning island landscapes, rolling hills, centuries-old limestone houses, and the survivors of some of the strongest storms in the world.

Cebu: A major province of the Philippines in the Western Visayas, a group of islands where Ferdinand Magellan first landed to conquer the Philippines, before being conquered by the indigenous leader Lapu-Lapu.

Guide to Metro Manila - Must Sees

Metro Manila is the National Capitol Region of the Philippines. Approximately 25 million people reside in Metro Manila’s sixteen cities and municipalities. Much of Cory’s time in the Philippines takes place here.

Ninoy Aquino International Airport (or NAIA): Over ten million Filipinos, like Cory’s dad, leave the Philippines for work abroad each year. Their departure point is usually NAIA, the country’s biggest international airport, named for the presidential candidate assassinated on the tarmac during Ferdinand Marcos’ dictatorship in 1983. Cory’s parents both departed from NAIA, and Cory lands there for the first time in 2009, during the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Quezon City: The most populated city within Metro Manila, home to nearly three million residents and 142 barangays (villages). This is where Cory’s dad Rommel is from, and where her brother Jun still lives. Cory is overwhelmed by Quezon City at first, but she learns to maneuver it.

Maginhawa Street: A long thoroughfare of cafes, small shops, student hangouts, bookstores, and minimarts in Teachers Village, the barangay within Quezon City where Jun and Iggy live. Maginhawa Street and Teachers Village are near two of the country’s most prestigious universities: Ateneo de Manila University and The University of the Philippines, Diliman, where Jun is an engineering major.

Katipunan: A barangay of Quezon City where many university students study, hang out, and reside. It’s also home to music venues where bands like the 1890s play. Katipunan is named for the 1892 organization of Filipinos who resisted colonial occupation.

Makati: The business center of the Philippines, with corporations, banks, fancy hotels, embassies, museums, galleries, and department stores. This is where Bea works as a model.

Cheap Car and Van Rental in Manila, Philippines

with the option of driver or self-drive with Anis Transport. We offer budget friendly Car & Van Rental Services. For private airport transfer or shuttle services for employees, rent our car and van. Self-drive and with the option of driver available.

[womanlalaboy]

Locals of Elyu

[thetravelure]

Beach during a Pandemic? Yes, please!

If I could count the number of months I had to stay at home during the past 2 years, I would say it would total to 24 months! LOL.

You see, a year prior the pandemic, I got pregnant with our first baby and up until February of this year, there were no travel plans of any sort at all.

This year though, we couldn't let the opportunity pass us by. Our baby daughter has spent 17 months of her life indoors and it was not a healthy way for her to grow up as she takes in everything that surrounds her. We thought bringing her outside and exposing her to what the natural world looks like would boost her developing skills.

And so we did.

We wanted to experience the cool weather of Tagaytay before enjoying the view at a nearby beach + pool accommodation on our final stop. If you are thinking of the same, plus this itinerary gives you ample time to relax and breaks in between driving, here’s our itinerary:

Overnight at a Bahay Kubo in Alfonso, Cavite

Overnight at a beach house in Balayan, Batangas

My go-to accommodation platform:

AirBnB

You may also try:

Agoda

Booking.com

Be sure you have it downloaded in your mobile and that you are a registered user of all three mentioned above.

Booking the accommodation in advance (a month at least), helps lessen the expenses during the actual trip. What we only did spend on was for food, save for the fuel and toll gate fees (if applicable).

Tip: Consider buying from the nearby market especially the perishables. If there is none, opt to buy them from your local supermarket the day before the trip and pack them in containers tightly shut and store them in the fridge overnight. If you have an ice chest, better bring it as well for long drives.

As for snacks, you can buy them easily from the grocery store. The same goes with your toiletries. That way, you only spend for the essential ones when you get to your destination.

Speaking of essential ones, I also brought with us what the baby will use for the next three days. Such as her nappies and a container of distilled water. The rest, are her usual stuff that she consumes and uses at home. We brought everything including her blankets, pillows and her own inflatable pool!

So, for 6 adults and 1 infant, our expenses (in estimate) for a 3D2N trip are as follows:

Accommodation: PHP 15,000

Food: PHP 3,000

Groceries: PHP 1,000

Other expenses: Toll gate fees + other necessities you may need during the trip.

If you were to follow this itinerary, you would have spent approximately PHP 3,167.00 for a 3D2N out-of-town break. Do you think this is worth a try? Let me know.

[rants-ni-raven]

THE UGLY TRUTH

Waste has become a tremendous problem for anyone who don’t know anything about waste management. In fact, our problem with wastes and plastic is so huge that it got in our waters. Oceans, rivers, lake, beaches, and every other body of water has been polluted with either human waste or garbage. This particular problem can be seen in our neighborhood, my family even before I was born were already residing in San Miguel, Manila. It may sound fancy because we just live in the neighborhood of the Malacanang and people has this perspective of it being clean, green, and safe. But to everyone living in this area, we know that we are surrounded by the biggest river in the metro which is the Pasig River. Inside the San Miguel, we have the Estero De San Miguel which has a direct connection to the Pasig River. This Estero is known to produce foul smells and looks like it came out of the smoky mountain. Its’ green, tons of garbage appearance, and contaminated water is enough for anyone to be disgusted. Even if we live somewhere near decent, a lot of poor families still reside in the side of the river. Most of families living in a poor condition lives in a riverside or somewhere where most canals are found, these families are not privileged enough to know how to dispose their wastes, thus resulting in them throwing every wastes they have in the river.

To be able to address these problems, it’s important for everyone, from elderly to child, to learn waste management and to recycle anything that could still be use. As an educator, it is probably one of the most important thing that should be taught first. Learning from my past educators, they always assure that we learn to maintain the cleanliness of the class first. These problems in our home might be small but they always result in big catastrophe that affects not just your family, but everyone else. As we all know, the Pasig River is connected to Manila Bay as well. Pasig River, despite countless of rehabilitation projects to restore it is still not fully back to its’ former condition. The same goes for the beautification of Manila Bay, if esteros, cannot be cleaned, then there’s no point to hope that the Pasig river would be cleaned; if Pasig River won’t be cleaned, then Manila Bay has no chance in getting cleaned, even if the government piles up tons of sand that’s only purpose is to mimic the Boracay beaches, the waters and the surroundings of Manila Bay won’t be fully rehabilitated. The same goes to the oceans, there’s always a bigger picture in every little thing that we do. If we can’t clean up our mess inside our homes, then there’s no point to hope that we can clean our oceans too.

[hazeyelnutbeatlefan]

The Philippines’ Greatest Challenge of 2020

The Philippines is a tropical country in Asia whose islands are surrounded by bodies of water which beautiful beaches, tourist spots and other natural resources. But every year during typhoon season, we are reminded that God has plans for us that we cannot anticipate. Thousands of Filipino families are affected by floods and landslides due to various reasons. 

Amidst the global pandemic that is affecting millions of lives around the world, The Philippines has been taking each punch like a champ on top of other obstacles that may arise in our archipelago. We Filipinos are known for our resilience and positive outlook amidst several calamities that happens in our country every year

This year, on top of the COVID-19 pandemic, we experienced the eruption of the world’s smallest volcano known as Bulkang Taal. It spewed ashes hours before its eruption causing alarm and panic to the residents who live near the volcano who is a tourist spot, and who’s views is the source of livelihood for most of its residents. 

After that, we experienced more than a few months inside our homes due to the virus outbreak. Panic spread among citizens in Metro Manila and caused panic buying and the surge of people going home to provinces due to the lockdown. This resulted into chaos especially when the guidelines were unclear and there was no definite road map plan to preventing the spread of the virus from our government. The first few months we have been prohibited from going outside totally except for buying food and medicine by one representative of the family. The next obstacle was getting through the lockdown with little to no guidelines and how this led to the shutdown of various businesses. Months later, now in the early days of the Christmas season, our president has admitted to only be now being aware of the importance of contact tracing and testing. This did not sit well with the citizens that have been calling out mass testing since the early days of the lockdown and sparked outrage. 

These are just a few of the problems that our nation is facing in 2020, but there are other conflicts and problems that we have not shed light to. For example, the controversial Philhealth Scandal that is being pushed aside when one of our president’s platforms during his candidacy days were to diminish drugs and corruption within 3-6 months of his term. 4 years later, P15 Billion pesos lost, and no one seems to be trying to find out which pockets these funds went. 

Given all these problems and challenges our country is facing there is a beacon of hope. A silver lining that we can see. Citizens are raising funds and helping their fellow countrymen in every way we can because it is clear to us that we are the only ones that can help ourselves at this time. We are divided by our political views, but we come together as one nation. We are Filipinos. Resilient and resourceful.

[airylalejandria]

Boracay Escapade (Travel Blog)

Boracay is one of the best beaches in the Philippines. It provides a blissful view and a ton of activities. Boracay is blessed with powdery white sand, crystal clear and azure waters, and an impressive view of sunset. Not only that information but also Boracay has been cited as one of the best islands and beaches in the world according to reputable publications and travelers' choice lists. Also, you will feel their warm welcome once you step on their place. 

In April 2017, my family planned a trip to Boracay for 3 days and 2 nights. We were all excited in view of the fact that it was our first time, while my mother was in her second time. First, we went to Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro to visit our relatives. Not to mention, it was my mother’s hometown. We had a mini reunion since it was a once a year event, we only saw them for at least once a year.

On 17th of April at exactly four in the morning, we rode a van for two to three hours going to Roxas Port, Mindoro. When we got there, we bought a ticket for our ferry going to Caticlan Jetty Port. Our estimated travel time on the ferry was four to five hours. As we arrived at Caticlan Jetty Port, we bought another ticket for an environmental fee and boat to get to the beach. Not just that but also for our last ride, we rode a tricycle to get to our accommodation. We got there before five o’clock in the afternoon. It was a long and exhausting trip unlike travelling by air. 

As we arrived at the hotel, namely Boracay Tropics they welcomed us with open arms. They gave us a necklace with their resort’s name in it as a souvenir. They escorted us to our room and brought us cucumber juice as a welcome present. We stayed in our room for at least 30 minutes to settle everything. We went out for a walk and to take some pictures before it got dark. We ate our dinner at a restaurant near our hotel. The prices of the fast food chains are very different from the fast food chains in Metro Manila.

On our second day, we tried some activities such as: Island hopping, parasailing, and snorkeling. In island hopping, we went to different islands and I only remember one island which is the Puka beach. It has clear, cold and azure water. In parasailing, as you can see in the fifth and sixth picture, we rode on a boat and when we got far from the seashore we rode on a parachute. The boat was continuously operating so the air would inflate the parachute. In snorkeling, we had the chance to feed the fish and see the corals. Every activity was expensive yet fun. After doing some activities, we spent the rest of our second day taking pictures and walking around the seashore from station 2 to station 1 then back to station 3. Not to mention but our hotel is located in station 2. 

On our last day, we took a picture with the sand art. After that, my sister and I got our hair braided by the locals in Boracay. We bought some souvenirs from different shops and had lunch at D’mall before we checked out from our hotel. After we checked out, we took a picture outside the hotel. (8th picture) We rode a tricycle going to the port and rented a van going to the airport. It took two to three hours of travel before we got into the airport. 

As we arrived at the airport, we were asked to weigh our baggage. We entered the lobby where we could wait for our flight. We waited for almost two hours, then they announced that our flight would be delayed for 30 minutes but it took 1 hour before we got into the airplane. Our flight took 45 minutes to one hour. It was my first time riding an airplane, I was dazed when it took off and landed. It was raining when we landed in Manila, the crew and staff assisted us until we reached the terminal. We had our dinner at Chowking and went straight to our house. It was a very tiring yet memorable experience.

[janeyarch]

Longing for Home

I just came from home for a vacation and I feel so homesick. Along with some facts about me, I am sharing to you my reflection as I long for home.

6 years ago, I first arrived in Manila for a board exam. I am a non-practicing CPA, by the way. The license reminds me of my parents’ sacrifices, which is why I work hard to renew it.

5 memorable firsts in Manila:

  ��(1)seeing flood reach knee-deep levels

   (2)riding a train

   (3)getting lost and asking strangers for directions. But as instructed then, I only asked help from guards (for safety).

   (4)shopping at Divisoria.

   (5)speaking straight Tagalog for more than 1 sentence. Bisaya is my native language. I still get confused even until now.

4 years living independently away from my parents' comfort. I flew alone with no job offer then. It was a major decision which I never regretted and which I will forever be grateful for.

3 different residences. I first lived in a 1-bedroom apartment with 5 other girls then I moved to a 2-bedroom condo with my sister and 1 other lady. Now, I am living at a dorm that is a 15-min walk away to/from Net Lima. 

2 companies in Metro Manila. I came from SGV as an IT auditor before moving to Coke.

1 hometown I always look forward to -- Dauin, Negros Oriental. It is a town 16-km away from Dumaguete. Our house is near the beach (10-min walk away) and the mountain (1-hr ride away). We used to swim in the ocean during weekends and at natural hot springs in the mountain during occasions.

Reminiscing these things, I cannot help but wonder where I truly belong and where my path ultimately lies. I even feel like I do not belong anywhere. I miss the “chill” province life but I do not see myself working/living there in the long run.

I remember one of the preachings at church about sojourners. Sojourner simply means someone who lives away from home, like Abraham. When Abraham entered the Promised Land, he did so as “a sojourner and foreigner” (Genesis 23:4). Abraham experienced moving from place to place and living in tents. He obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going. But he held on to God's promise and was looking for the city whose architect and builder was God (Hebrews 11:9).

As for me, I do not know how long I will live at the new dorm, nor the length of my stay at Coke, nor my time left here on earth. However, I believe that I am called for an adventure and that God has prepared "a city" for me - the home that I deeply long for.

"Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” - Hebrews‬ ‭11:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[snugsodium]

Advantages of Living in an Urban City - Featuring Taguig City

The general state in which we choose our desired lifestyle is what makes our living situation convenient and comfortable. This has always been the debate between choosing a location where you can invest in a real estate property to either personally live in or make it as a passive income for rental purposes. Sure, rural living and the provincial side of real estate investment has their fair share of benefits - quiet ambiance, near beaches, supermarkets and resorts, and less stress when it comes to traveling within its premises. However, urban city living has an abundant amount of huge advantages that will benefit the end-user or highlight why renting in the desired cityscape is amazing for the long term.

This article highlights said advantages, as we feature Metro Manila (National Capital Region) for the purposes of the breakdown. Metro Manila has been the subject of many infrastructure projects that have been accomplished, ongoing construction, and still being planned and proposed for more development and upgrades to city living that will become similar to first-world countries.

The City Life: Here are some advantages of urban living

[purplesurveys]

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What has been the most annoying thing about your day so far? I had a blood test done for my dog last Friday and they still haven’t updated me about the availability of the results. They really shouldn’t have said “Wait within the day or tomorrow” if they weren’t going to be able to deliver their promise up to THREE days later because it’s just giving me more anxiety.  Is your computer running slow today? (Mine is, and it's annoying!!!!) No. I don’t do a lot of things with mine and it’s especially relaxed now that school’s out for Christmas and the programs I usually have on are now closed. Do you own a romper? Yes, I have a couple. Do you have a smartphone or a dumb phone, or no phone? I have a...smartphone, I guess. What popular social media platforms AREN'T you on? Instagram.

Have you ever spilled nail polish? I don’t think I have, no. What was the last thing you were stressed about? Well, since you got me talking about my dog’s blood test, then that. I’ll also be stressing over my Incomplete marks throughout the holiday break. What does your computer's slow-loading cursor look like? I don’t get it – like what shows up when my laptop kinda lags? It shows me the Mac rainbow pinwheel. Do you prefer Microsoft Word or Pages? I use Google Docs to write class notes and to work on anything acads-related. I used to use Pages, then I realized it didn’t suit me so I moved on to Microsoft OneNote, then it just traumatized me after I tried using it for my notes in Econ class which I barely passed – so I just moved on to GDocs. Would you rather have a trampoline or swimming pool? Swimming pool. I have little use for a trampoline. Are you angry at someone right now? Myself, as always. Do you ever dream of getting revenge? It’s an occasional thought just so I feel satisfied but it never gets into specifics. Do you have the same favorite colors you had when you were a kid? Mmm no. My favorite as a kid was purple, because it was my great-grandma’s favorite and a lot of her stuff was purple. When she passed, I saw it less and less and I phased it out as my favorite color. What do you like to put in your tea? I don’t like tea. What do you like to put in smoothies? There’s one smoothie that I admittedly do like; it’s called the Breakfast Smoothie from Go Salads but I dunno what’s in it so let me look it up real quick – ok so I just checked Zomato, and it consists of apple, banana, cinnamon, oats, coco sugar, chia seeds, greens, and soy milk. I don’t make smoothies myself but if I absolutely had no choice, I’d get that specific kind. Do your stuffed animals have names? I don’t even own any stuffed toys. What was the name of the first porcelien doll you got? I never had one. What would you like to paint on a rock? I’ve never thought about painting on a rock. Do you own any tapestries, and if so, what's on it/them? Nope. Do you sell any products? If so, what? No, I don’t. Am really not the business-y/entrepreneurial type, lmao. If not, do you want to start a business? See above. Have your parents ever crushed your dreams? No, they have always been accepting and supportive. Bonus points to my dad for not laughing in my face when I told him I wanted to be a runway model back when I was 12 because I WOULD HAVE. Do you own anything cheetah print? I have a hand-me-down tank top with a cheetah print but I only wear that around the house. Do you know how to knit? No, I never learned how to. We were taught knitting and crocheting in home ec but I have a very hard time learning if it’s hands-on (which also explains why I can’t do origami), so I was never able to catch up with my classmates and never got to submit final projects either. Have you ever made a collage for your bedroom wall? I did like a lettering thing of a quote made up of cut-up magazine pages when I was in high school, but I’m not sure if that counts as a collage. Do you make DIY projects and gifts? No, because I’m terrible at anything DIY. Would you ever get a tattoo? I would but it would take A LOT of courage, crying, and getting over my fear of needles lmao. Is your computer slow? Nope. The one time it noticeably lagged was when I downloaded The Sims 4 and started playing it. I quickly realized it isn’t a gaming laptop though so I had the program deleted almost immediately. What types of churches do you find really boring? All of them. Would you ever start a small group in your home? Uh, like a cult? No, that’s pretty weird. Do you have an inspiration board? No, I don’t. What do you take when your back hurts? I don’t take anything, I just change my position to one where my back won’t feel as strained. Does your back hurt right now? Not so much at the moment. What color are your nails painted? THEY AREN’TTTTTT Are you wearing a romper? I don’t wear rompers around the house lmao. Do you have a colored teddy bear? Nope. On what day is your local grocery store the busiest? I’m guessing Sunday, since everyone usually goes out on Sundays anyway. What day do you usually go grocery shopping? My mom does hers on the weekends.  Do you prefer to shop online or in stores? In stores tbh because I get to see the products before thinking about buying them, but I won’t deny that online shopping is also a lot more convenient. Do you like shopping? Looking through shelves and hangers can be overwhelming for me so no not really, but it does feel good when I’ve already bought everything I want/need haha. Do you own any band t-shirts? Just one.

Do you have an annoying neighbor? They have annoying kids, but no I don’t have issues with the neighbors. Do you have a dream? Sure. Do you own a pair of Lularoe leggings? No. Would you ever wear leggings as pants? I have before. Owls or peacocks? Peacocks, I guess? Lions or horses? Lions. Do you like getting caught in the rain without an umbrella? No. Can you still fit into kid's clothes? Kid’s clothes are hella small so I highly doubt it, but I do have a rather petite figure. Would you rather wear orange or black? Black. Is your kitchen floor black and white checkered? It isn’t. Do you own bar stools? We don’t. Who have you been told you look like? I’ve been told I look and speak like Frankie Pangilinan lmao. I also had a high school classmate who liked telling me I look like Lucy Hale but I haaaaaaardly see the resemblance. What color are your doorknobs? Gold. Do you feel like you are waiting for life to start? Now more than ever, yeah. What devotional do you read, if any? Do you own a bobblehead? Not since I was a kid. What do you make wishes on? Just candles. Do you own pastel-colored jeggings? I don’t own jeggings at all. Are you in physical pain right now? Not anymore since I got my teeth treated. So relieving. Are you in emotional distress right now? Always during the holiday season. What color nail polishes do you think are best for summer? I don’t care. What's the best natural pain reliever? Dogs and good food. Do you like trees? I’m not particularly obsessed but I do care for them, if that’s what you’re asking. Do you own a flashlight? Yeah, I have one in my car that doubles as a taser. What is your city known for? Rice cakes, a waterfall, its resorts, and being on a mountain. What is your state known for? Rizal isn’t particularly known for anything other than being near Metro Manila and large chunks of it being atop a mountain lol. What is your country known for? A murderous president, being in the news for hurricanes and floods, beaches like Palawan and Boracay, and balut, which so many people are pussies about. Do you have a church home? I don’t even know what that means. If the local mailman sent you a facebook friend request, would you accept? No. What's your favorite Paramore song? OMG ARE YOU KIDDING HAVE YOU READ THIS TUMBLR Do you like the song "Fake Happy"? YES Do you tan easily? A bit, yeah. Do you own plaid pants? Nope. What did your first Barbie doll look like? I don’t remember because I didn’t really like playing with Barbies. Do you like scrambled eggs? Love them. They’re my favorite kind of eggs, along with omelets. Have you ever made a recipe you found in a magazine? Nope. Have you ever done a craft that you saw in a magazine? I probably did as a kid. What kind of business would you most like to start? Food, most likely. Are you bitter about anything? Aren’t we all. What is your favorite nail polish color? I don’t caaaaare. What is your favorite color for cars? White. What is your favorite color for bridesmaid dresses? Something muted, like dirty white or cream or beige. I don’t want a lot of flashy colors in my wedding. What is your favorite color in general? Right now it’s pastel pink. Do you look good in black? Yes. Do you ever wear orange? Rarely. Do you have a twin? No. If you had a twin, what would he or she be named? I don’t have a clue.