We just got home from an overnight stay at Canyon Cove Residential Beach Resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. My husband’s company provides summer outing each year for its employees, and my husband’s unit at the Treasury Department chose this place this time. As usual, we (Justin and I) went, and as usual, we had so much fun.






Check-in time was 3pm, but we were there at 10am. Because we still had to wait for a few more hours before we could go to our room, Justin’s Dad allowed him and his Ate April to frolic on the beach when the sun is at its hottest, but with sunblock, of course!

And because Justin was so excited, he never asked for milk the whole day yesterday (Saturday) until 5:55pm today (Sunday). That means great savings for mommy. LOL! The bad thing is most of what he ate since yesterday were junk food. The beach was cool, clear, and inviting. We had the best of both worlds because after the beach, we headed to the pools.












Canyon Cove Residential Beach Resort is a nice place overall. Because the place is huge, it can accommodate company day tours/outings for hundreds of employees. The downside is the food is really expensive. It also took forever for our orders to arrive. It’s either they’re understaffed or there were just too many guests at the resort yesterday.

Canyon Cove’s room rates are as follows: Php4,700.00 (Superior), Php6,750.00 (Deluxe), and Php7,500.00 (Suite). Rates are inclusive of Breakfast for Two. Checkout time is 12noon. There is an extra charge of Php600.00 per head for every extra person you’re bringing along.

We had a very fun family outing at Dona Jovita Garden Resort in Calamba, Laguna last Friday and Saturday, March 26 and 27, 2010. We planned this special event for the following reasons: (1) it’s Nanay’s 59th birthday on March 31, (2) it’s Nanay and Tatay’s 39th wedding anniversary on March 31 also, and (3) we have a new nurse in the family; Justin’s Ate Ayie, my niece, passed the December 2009 Nursing Licensure Exam and has recently taken her professional oath.

This swimming party was a success because we had 100% attendance. We rented one cottage, which was enough to accommodate all 16 of us (13 adults and 3 kids). We brought our own home-cooked food (grilled fish and pork, chicken and pork adobo, spaghetti, and ensaladang mangga at kamatis [green mango and tomato salad]). We all enjoyed dipping in the various pools at the resort and just being with family.


From left to right: Nanay, Tita Meann, Tito Orlan, Ate April with Kuya Ron, Ate Ayie with Justin, Tetcha and Ate Hazel (front)


Tetcha and my niece Ayie, our new nurse!


Justin pretending he knows how to swim. LOL!


Dennis, Meann, Ayie, and Tetcha


Justin’s cousins: Ate Ayie, Ate Tin-Tin, and Kuya Ron (Where’s Ate Hazel?)


Justin’s Daddy and Tito Dennis


Charlie’s Angels: Ayie, Meann, and Tin-Tin


All of us before leaving the resort
Nestled at the foot of Mount Makiling, Dona Jovita Garden Resort has an assortment of pools and Jacuzzis that can be supplied with Hot Spring water as desired. The pools can also be reserved for exclusive use. Ornamental plants and trees adorn the place as well, which makes for a more relaxing vacation. You can also enjoy a game of billiards with friends, sing your heart out with the resort’s videoke machines, or go horseback riding around the area. Admission fees are as follows: Children below 3 ft. (free), children 3 ft. to 3.9 ft. (Php130.00), children 4 ft. and above and adults (Php150.00).

Summer is the perfect time to cool out in the pool or at the beach. This early, Justin is already looking forward to his Daddy’s annual company summer outing on April 10 and 11 somewhere in Batangas. We’re also having our own family outing and swimming in Calamba, Laguna this weekend, but I don’t want to miss Mommy Moments, so I’ve uploaded here our summer escapades for two consecutive years.

Club Balai Isabel Resort in Talisay, Batangas (April 2008)





Montemar Beach Club in Bagac, Bataan (April 2009)




Click on the badge above to see more exciting summer adventures.

On April 28 and 29, our small family trooped to Montemar Beach Club in Bagac, Bataan for a much-needed summer getaway. This was actually my husband’s annual company summer outing.

All four of us--Ed, Tetcha, Justin, and Mercy (Justin’s new yaya)--woke up early so we won’t be late for the 6:30am assembly time at my husband’s office.

We had the best of both worlds as the resort both has a beach and swimming pools. While Justin was a little hesitant to dip himself into the water during last year’s summer outing, it’s a totally different story for him this time around. He really enjoyed swimming at the beach or in the kids’ pool. He actually asked me to bring him to the adult’s pool, too.


Justin and Mommy at the beach


Justin playing with the sand with his pail and rake


At the kids' pool


At the big pool
We’re looking forward to another fun-filled summer outing next year.

April 2008 was Justin’s first summer outing. It was my husband’s annual company summer outing, and last year it was held at the Club Balai Isabel Resort in Talisay, Batangas.



Justin actually enjoyed playing in the water, but he was afraid of dipping himself into the water even if his daddy assured him it’s okay. The rooms we occupied were located in the villa where the owner of the resort resides. That villa has its own swimming pool aside from the resort’s main pool, so we actually had that pool all to ourselves.





While we hoped to make Justin’s first summer outing fun and exciting, it turned out to be traumatic for him (See my post “Justin’s First Summer Outing"). He also contracted fever due to throat and ear infections most probably from the water in the pool that had gotten into both his ears.

We’re hoping Justin will have a much nicer experience this year.

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