OUR AWESOME PLANET

5 Reasons Why Baking is More FUN at the BAKERY FAIR 2013 :) @bakeryfairPH

Congratulations to the opening success of Bakery Fair 2013 :)  Don't miss the Bakery Fair today and the last day tomorrow (Saturday)! 

Here are the 5 Reasons Why Baking is More FUN at the BAKERY FAIR 2013 :)

Related Blog Post: Your Top 5 Frequently Asked Questions About the Biggest Bakery Fair in Manila

7 Reasons not to miss Manila's Biggest Travel Fair Ever (2013)

I've been to previous travel fairs and even participated to promote our local tours, and I can say that this year's 20th PTAA Travel Fair is the BIGGEST and MOST VIBRANT event ever. You can really feel that the Tourism Business is Booming!

The travel fair has a total of 257 exhibitors and has now expanded to 5 function rooms in SMX. It is composed of 100 hotels and resorts, 67 tourism-related companies, 42 travel agencies and tour operators, 25 airlines, and 23 national tourism agencies. More than 600,000+ visitors are expected to attend the fair this weekend.

I know it can get overwhelming, but here are 7 Reasons you should not miss visiting Manila's Biggest Travel Fair starting today Feb. 15 until this Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013:

The Valentine's 2013 Romantic Gameplan in Manila

(Image credit: subbotina / 123RF Stock Photo)

Valentine's is around the corner. And if you are like me and most guys, we usually plan the last minute. Since the actual V-day falls on a Thursday, that presents an interesting predicament for Romeos because we have to plan for the day itself, Friday night, and the weekend.

I've done some initial research for you in this blog post to help you decide. Most of the reservations will be filled up this weekend, so you have to figure out what to do quickly.

Here's the gameplan for the 4-day Valentine's weekend:

Happy New Year 2013! @Nuvali Lantern Parade

400+ Lanterns welcomed the New Year in Light Up Nuvali's Lantern Parade last December 30 7pm.

Manila's Awesome Guide to Year End Christmas Celebrations and BEST New Year's Eve Parties to Welcome 2013!

(Photo: Symphony of Lights @ Bonifacio Global City)

As the Mayan Calendar ends its 5,125 year-cycle, we continue to celebrate life and forever thankful for all the blessings we received in 2012.

It's never been this great to be in Manila during this Christmas Season. Manila is bustling in every corner of the Metro with festive buffets, innovative festivals and celebratory parties.

We welcome back Spiral at Sofitel, and welcome the new Spectrum at Raffles and Fairmont Hotel. Foodies kept on raving about Impressions, recognized as the Best Hotel Fine Dining Restaurant in the 2012 MBKRS Awards, for its ala carte and Sunday Brunch buffet.

Don't miss to experience the modern festivals in Manila -- SM Mall of Asia's The Grand Festival of Lights Parade, Cucina Andare's Food Truck Festival every weekend in Glorieta 3 Park, and the first ever Nuvali's Lantern Parade.

On New Year's Eve, you can choose to party at Makati's Official Countdown entitled, "One World. One Makati"; GMA 7's Official Countdown at SM Mall of Asia, or Eastwood City Countdown featuring Iyaz, Ely Buendia and Up Dharma Down.

On January 1, 1 AM, the party continues at 31 to 1. 100% Rockwell New Year Party!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Our Awesome Planet Readers :)

Here's the Manila's Awesome Guide to:
Year end Christmas Celebrations & BEST New Year's Eve Parties to Welcome 2013!

2012 Awesome Calendar of the Philippines (updated with Proclamation 295)

Our Definitive Guide to Philippine Holidays, Philippine Festivals, Philippine Fiestas, Liturgical Events, and Awesome Events! 

Copyright 2011. Our Awesome Planet

Updated Dec. 1, 2011 with Proclamation 295 Declaring the Regular Holidays, Special (Non-Working) Days, and Special Holiday (for all Schools) for the year 2012.

JANUARY 2012
Best Time to Climb Mt. Pinatubo!

1 NEW YEAR'S DAY | Sunday (Every 1st of January) | PhilippinesRegular Holiday. Solemnity of Mary Mother of God  HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION

9 FEAST OF THE BLACK NAZARENE | Sunday | Quiapo, Manila
An intense, day-long festival highlighted by a mammoth procession through the streets.

14 PASUNGAY FESTIVAL 2012 | 3rd Saturday | San Joaquin, Iloilo
One of the thrilling bull fighting festival as a culminating event of the Bayluhay Festival which celebrates the arrival of the 10 Datus from Borneo in the 13th century. 

15 ATI-ATIHAN 2012 | 3rd Sunday |Kalibo, Aklan
Commemorates the 13th century land deal between 10 migrating Bornean chieftains and the aboriginal Ati King Marikudo. It also honors the town patron, the infant Sto. Nino.

15 SINULOG 2012 | 3rd Sunday | Cebu City
Cebu’s biggest and most popular festival in honor of the Holy Image of Senyor Sto. Niño

22 DINAGYANG FESTIVAL 2012 | 4th Sunday | Iloilo City
Street dancing characterized by frenetic stomping of feet and hypnotic drumbeating. It is a colorful whirl of thousands of people dressed in unique costumes dancing & chanting all day and night.

23 CHINESE NEW YEAR - THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON | Monday | Binondo, Manila
The Chinese community celebrates the Chinese New Year with pomp & color through a dragon dance.

March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation

31 FEAST DAY OF ST. JOHN BOSCO |  Tuesday (Every 31st of Jan) 
Celebration of the feast day of the Father and Teacher of Youth who founded the Salesian Society. 

 

World's Best Sandbox 2011 by Butch J. Jimenez

My friend Butch Jimenez has a simple advocacy: "To trumpet to the world that the Philippines is the World's BEST Sandbox!" He gives away  FREE desk calendar showcasing the best beaches in the Philippines. He does not ask for payment in any shape or form - there's no catch. 

This year, Butch is partnering with Our Awesome Planet to share the World's Best Sandbox 2011 Calendars to all Our Awesome Planet readers and friends :)  All the photos are taken by Butch J. Jimenez.

Here are snapshots of the calendar:

14 Ideas for a Different Valentine's in 2011

Celebrating Valentine's is getting competitive, with a lot of events happening all at the same time. Since V-day falls on a weekday, it offers a unique scenario where you have a pre-Valentine's weekend (Feb. 12-13), the Valentine's Day celebration itself, and a post-Valentine's weekend (Feb. 19-20).

I know it's tough to plan a V-day date or gimik these days, so here are 14 ideas to make your Valentine's celebration a little different:

1. Valentine's Picnic by Taal Lake

I've always loved picnics, which is why I was happy to find a perfect spot for it beside the Taal Lake. Club Balai Isabel in Talisay is now a full-fledged resort with a big swimming pool, a new chapel called The Spousal of Joseph and Mary Chapel, and an unobstructed view of Taal Volcano.

Club Balai Isabel offers a picnic for 2 for only P1,200, exclusively for 12 couples per day from February 12-14. The picnic includes: chips and 3 kinds of salsa, chicken yakitori and pork loin barbecue with java rice (to be grilled), baked chorizo penne with bechamel sauce , pandesal de pugon with 3 kinds of spread , fresh fruit salad , and ensaymaditas with queso de bola.

The best time to go is from 5pm-8pm so you can catch the Taal sunset. Club Balai Isabel is just an hour away from Manila, thanks to the SLEX-Star Tollway. You exit via Talisay, Batangas.

Reserve now with Richard, Account Executive of Club Balai Isabel +63 917 872-1533!