The month of May is very special for the Eppersons. We just celebrated Tom’s birthday last May 10 and our 17th year wedding anniversary last May 11. Wow! Seventeen years seems like a long time, but honestly, Tom and I feel like it was just yesterday. I feel so blessed to have my husband in my life! I want to tell the world that I love you, Tom! Thanks for bringing joy into my life!

Thanks Tom for working during our anniversary! Please blame Pauline. Choz! Haha!

Miranda: “Being a mother kicks your ass.”
Charlotte: “Yes, but the benefits make it worth it.”
-Quote from Sex and the City 2 the movie

My weekend was jam-packed with so many wonderful moments. Here’s how it went:

Friday, 9am

Birthday breakfast with Tom at Apartment 1B.

Friday, 5pm

My Mother’s Day Talk at SM North Edsa, The Block

This was my second time to do a talk at SM The Block. I’m so happy that the place got packed and I was able to meet a lot of my readers and Twitter followers too.

Thanks also to everyone who came to the book signing! I especially got kilig when two of the husbands of my blog readers came to my talk to have their wives books signed by me as a Mother’s Day surprise. My heart melted! Hope your wives liked your gifts!

Photo by Jen Aquino

Saturday, 8am

I woke up early to cook breakfast for the Preview magazine team who came over to “Maison Epperson”. They’re doing something special for me for their July issue. Tune in!

The breakfast barkada

From left: Preview's editor-in chief (a.k.a. mads), Pauline Suaco-Juan; Preview's lifestyle editor, Kissa Castañeda; makeup artist Ken Pagaspas; (in black T-shirt) hair stylist Roman and his assistant Jeff

(Photo taken using Instagram)

Saturday, 3pm

Tom surprised me with a weekend staycation at the Marriot Manila Hotel. I thought we were just having dinner at our new favorite restaurant, Cru Steakhouse at Resorts World. Turns out, he got a suite for us! I love romance!

Saturday, 7:30pm

Dinner at Cru Steakhouse

Ang tamis ba? Haha!

Sunday, 11am

Kaye Tinga invited me and Aryanna to Bantay Bata’s Mother for Others event at Dusit.

Sunday, 9pm

These welcomed me home:

Thanks Ronald Pineda of Folded&Hung!

Salamat P&G!

(Photo taken using Instagram)

Beautiful bouquet from my friend Jill. Mmmwah!

Thanks Trishy for this!

Fab flowers from Pauline Juan. Love you, mads!

Charmaine Palermo is the sweetest! Thanks also to Will Hsu of Monsters Production!

(Photo taken using Instagram)

Sweet Life by Ange never fails to surprise me. Thanks for the cookie bouquet!

(Photo taken using Instagram)

Thanks everyone for the sweet gestures! Our place smell like a garden!

Finally home with the loves of my life!

Thank you Aryanna for the beautiful Mother’s Day gift you made me! You’ve also gotten better with your digital art. Good job! I was also touched by your letter.

To my dahling Dylan, you rock my world!

(Photo taken using Instagram)

I’m grateful for my family, friends, blog readers, and Twitter followers who are in my on and offline life. Thanks also to everyone who greeted me Happy Mother’s day and sent me gifts! I feel the love!

To all the moms and mother figures out there, find your passion, stay healthy and happy! Happy moms = Happy children!

HMD!

No one’s fault really, I got confused because of the change of schedule. Note to self: Don’t rely on DMs, always confirm through email and text.

Thanks SM for inviting me to this fun and fab Mom’s event! Special thanks too to Van of www.kalokohan.com! Sorry Van if I gave you a mild heart attack! Surprise! LOL

I hope that everyone can go albeit the very short notice… As in, ngayon ko lang kayo iniinform! At kakatanggap ko lang ng materials for blogging! Haha!

Single ladies and men are also welcome! Marami kayong mapulot na tips at katatawanan sa akin! In the end, life is about having fun and being fabulous! #Alamnyoyan

My talk is not just about being a mom but also about being a woman, a friend, and a lover! O-ha!

P.S.

To those who want to have their Fashion + Food books signed, please come too! 

Advance happy Mother’s Day!

In my opinion, when it comes to fashion events, dapat ang mga outfitey may slight loka-lokahan factor! Haha!

Style Formula: “Loka-lokahan” + “Exage” + Attitude = Fashion Red Carpet ready

My “bets” at The Met:

Bet ko ang apron dress at side boob na naganap!

Anyone who can wear an apron dress to a fashion event and still look effortlessly cool gets two legs up in my book!

GwINIT! HOT!

Gwyneth Paltrow in Prada

Bet ko ang mother and daughter tandem!

Fashion meets art. Giant lobster = Tribute to Elsa Schiaparelli

Anna Wintour in Prada and Bee Shaffer in Erdem

Bet ko ang cyborg fashion!

Futuristic mermaid

Carey Mulligan in Prada

Bet ko yung mabango at fierce!

Jessica Stam in Dior

Bet ko ang old Hollywood look, modernized by the use of deep brown lipchook!

Camilla Belle in Ralph Lauren

Bet ko yung pixie hair style lang ang katapat!

Lovely tangerine tango creation!

Ginnifer Goodwin in Monique Lhullier

Bet ko din ang muse and designer tandem

Zac Posen and Amber Heard in Zac Posen

Bet ko ang mga “fight” queens!

Peg for life!

Vera Wang in Vera Wang

Bet ko yung funny meets pretty

Red is the color of love and everyone loves Emma!

Emma Stone in Lanvin

Bet ko ang minimalist look

Solange Knowles and Rachel Roy in Rachel Roy

Bet ko ang signature red locks ni lola Grace!

Vogue's Grace Coddington in Prada

Ay! Bet ko ang cane! When wearing sky-high heels, who needs a man as a crutch when you can use a cane instead! Haha!

Brooke-n leg? Hehe

Bet ko ang plunging necklines!

No boobs, have plunging dress!

Debra Messing

Bet ko ang mono golden goddess look!

Kahit saang red carpet event mo ito isuot, pasok sa banga!

Bet ko ang full-on glamour!

Hindi nakuntento si Rachel Zoe sa turtle neck, mermaid gown, nilagyan pa nya ng turban si Karolina! NKKLK! Lav et!

Fringe with benefits!

Rachel Zoe and Karolina Kurkova in Rachel Zoe

Di ko bet si Claire Danes, pero bet ko ang plunging white wrap gown and Hugh Dansy!

Claire Danes in J. Mendel and Hugh Dancy

Bet ko ang labas ang hipbone look!

Only fit people can rock Anthony Vaccarello’s creations. Remember the sizzling black gown Gwyneth Paltrow wore on Harper’s Bazaar cover?

Anja Rubik in Anthony Vaccarello

Bet ko si “Cynthia” Olsen… Mary Kate or Ashley? “Cynthia”?

Loley gone punk!

Bet ko yung ubusan ng feathers!

Cate Blanchett in Alexander McQueen and Van Cleef & Arpels

Bet ko ang gladiator look meets mirror ball!

Chloe Sevigny in Miu Miu

Bet ko ang stark, contrasting colors and Iman’s flawless makeup!

Chanel Iman in Tom Ford and Tom Ford

Bet ko si Linda Evangelista yesterday, today, and tomorrow!

Linda Evangelista

Bet ko si Mick Jagger period.

Mick Jagger and L'Wren Scott

Bet ko ang one-shoulder gown na may black peek-a-boo! Forget about the weird gold bow, Amy Adams looks beautiful!

Bet ko ang todo backless!

Renee Zellweger not wearing Carolina Herrera on the red carpet is already pushing the style envelope.

Renee Zellweger in Emilio Pucci

This dress is not for everyone, but like what I wrote, bet ko ang loka-lokahan sa fashion events! Sabihin n’yong hindi kayo naloka sa damit ni Florence!

Florence Welch in Alexander McQueen

Eto pa yung isang fashion loka-lokahan!

Linda Fargo in Naeem Khan

Bet ko yung bata pa, loka-lokahan na ang outfitey!

Age-appropriate fashyon

Victoria Justice in MCQ by Alexander McQueen

Bet ko yung may mga drama sa neckline.

Christina Ricci in Thakoon

Bet ko ang color combo: green and coral

Resortwear meets couture

Tory Burch in Tory Burch'

Bet ko yung kakapanganak pa lang, naka see-thru couture agad-agad!

Beyoncé in Givenchy

Bet ko ang “florals for Spring?” over the top look!

Sarah Jessica Parker in Valentino

My best bet: Black + Rooney + Givenchy = Game over!

Rooney Mara in Givenchy

Shoppingera, who’s your favorite?

Aryanna and I got maximum protection using your sunblock at the beach.

From left: Beach Hut 40ml Lotion Sunblock, Beach Hut Max Clear Spray SPF75, Beach Hut Hair and Scalp Clear Spray SPF20, Beach Hut Kids SPF65, Clear Spray Sunblock, Beach Hut One Touch Clear Spray with SPF20, Beach Hut Max 100++, Beach Hut Face SPF65

Here are some product information from our friends from Beach Hut:

Your summer can be all about going on adventures, which often requires traveling light. That’s no problem anymore since Beach Hut 40ml Lotion Sunblock comes with a carabiner that you can just strap on and use anytime, anywhere. It’s perfect for the nature-loving, thrill-seeking, always-on-the-go summer adventurer in you.

A carabiner is a metal loop with a sprung gate

There shouldn’t be any reason for you to be left unprotected under the sun. Beach Hut Max Clear Spray SPF75 is the highest SPF available for a clear spray so you can stay under the sun longer! It’s a non-messy, non-sticky formula that doesn’t leave any white streaks. Available in 150ml.

You know that feeling when your hair feels heavy and dry when you come out of the water? That’s the salt from the sea water and other harmful chemicals that stay in your hair and scalp, along with the harsh effects of sun exposure. Our solution: Beach Hut Hair and Scalp Clear Spray SPF20. It keeps your hair silky smooth and moisturized all day, while also keeping your scalp protected from the brilliant sun. A first and one-of-a-kind product from Beach Hut.

Kids can really get excited when they see sand and the open water. That’s why we have Beach Hut Kids SPF65 Clear Spray Sunblock. It’s gentle on the skin but provides tough protection against sunburn, skin darkening, and other more damaging effects of the sun. It also has Vitamins C & E and a refreshing citrus scent, a definite plus for the little ones.

Beach Hut Classic Clear Spray SPF36 is a non-sticky and non-messy sunblock that is perfect for any day. It provides better, easier and even application that you can just spray and go!

Protecting yourself from the sun need not be a hassle. If you prefer continuous, super easy, and even protection, use Beach Hut One Touch Clear Spray with SPF20. It’s in aerosol format so you don’t even need to spread after spraying — truly a no-mess, non-sticky sunblock. Try it out in 170ml.

My favorite: The Beach Hut One Touch SPF20 is super easy to apply and I give it two legs up for the no-mess spray!

Beach Hut Max 100++ is the latest addition to the bunch. It provides extremely high SPF protection minus the messy and oily feel regular lotion sunblock bugs you with. It has micronized zinc oxide so it’s light, non-messy, and quick drying while offering 99% protection from sunburn, skin darkening, and other more damaging effects of the sun caused by UVA/UVB rays.

Sensitive? Not to worry. Beach Hut Face SPF65 is specially designed for those of you have very sensitive skin. It is formulated with micronized zinc oxide that’s ultra mild and hypoallergenic but can still completely protect you from the harmful UVA/UVB rays while keeping your skin moisturized.

Thinking of getting a tan? Beach Hut also has a line of tanning products: Beach Hut Deep Tanning Dry Oil SPF 4, Beach Hut Instant Shimmer Tanning Oil SPF 10, and Beach Hut Tan & Protect Dry Oil SPF 15

While other tanning products contain sunless tanning agents such as Dihydroxacetone (DHA), Beach Hut’s Tanning Line uses macadamia oil, a plant-derived tanning agent that moisturizes dry and rough skin, and a good antioxidant. Now, the only thing to think about is getting that perfect tan line.

We had a little get together with the relatives at home yesterday. I usually cook homemade food for family but I still find it too hot to cook. Instead, I opted to order take out.

I wanted to try something new so I ordered from Don Henrico’s. It was my first time to try their food so asked my Twitter friends for all the suggestions on what to order!

Here’s my “balanced” meal. Haha!

Oriental Chicken Salad

We loved the texture of this salad!

We ordered two types of soups: (L) French Onion Soup and Clam Chowder. Both tasted good!

Since it was our first time to order from Don Henrico’s, I thought we’d try a combination of flavors: Don Henrico’s Supreme and Rustic Italian Pizza.

If you like pan pizzas, their pizza has a good ration of dough to toppings.

Four Cheese Pizza

As you can see, this pizza is loaded with cheesy goodness.

(L) Seafood Pasta in X.O. sauce and Tutto De Mare Pasta

The Seafood Pasta in X.O. sauce was my favorite! I almost finished the whole serving! Caaaarbs!

The garlic bread came with the pasta.

Fish & Chips

This came with a dip. The kids liked this.

(L) Cheesy Baked Lasagna and (R) Chicken Chipolata Calzone

Aryanna liked the lasagna. It’s got that classic herb pomodoro sauce and lots of cheese! The calzone was impressive in terms of the size and presentation. I personally liked the chicken chipolata flavor.

Check out the gargantuan calzone! Good for sharing… with the whole baranggay!

Why didn’t anyone tell me that Don Henrico’s Captain Crunch Fried Chicken was the bomb? The skin was extra crispy and even without gravy, the chicken was very tasty. I give these two legs up! I wish I ordered the 7 pieces instead of 3.

I believe that the Buffalo Chicken Wings are Don Henrico’s pièce de résistance. Or at least that’s what my Twitter followers told me.

Everyone loved this! The kids liked the sweet taste of the sauce. Be prepared to get your hands and face dirty when you eat them!

Mmm…

Happy fiesta!

Tip: If you’re from Makati, order from their Mall of Asia branch as they don’t have a Makati branch yet.

Don Henrico’s also accepts party reservations. Visit their website for more information.

Shoppingero/shoppingera, order at Don Henrico’s now!

Have a wonderful and fun summer!

Nanette and I spoke briefly and she shared with me her inspiring project. I told her to email me all the information and that it would be my pleasure to share it with readers of my blog to help create awareness.

Hope In A Bottle

Ladies, gentlemen, and gays, if you want to help change lives, please read below:

Education is the key to our country’s future success. But with 88% of our students in public schools and a classroom shortage of 66,800 – our future depends getting things right for them.

Fortunately, making a difference in the lives of these public school students is now as easy as buying bottled water with Hope in a Bottle. Launched by Friends of Hope Inc., a non-profit organization that aims to empower students through better education, Hope in a Bottle contains 500ml of purified drinking water and is priced at parity with existing products in the market.  Apart from quenching your thirst, it also allows you to help a worthy cause. All of Friends of Hope Inc.’s profit goes straight to building new public school classrooms for Filipino kids in need, making it a better choice when buying water.

Entertainment personalities Joey de Leon, Jericho Rosales, Winnie Monsod, Bea Alonzo, and Boy Abunda have joined the “Alumni” Campaign of Hope as they themselves are the product of public schools. They have volunteered their star power for free in order to help Hope in a Bottle in its efforts to help the public schools.

Boy Abunda

Bea Alonzo

Jericho Rosales

Winnie Monsod

Joey De Leon

“Partners like Rustan’s, Seattle’s Best, Krispy Kreme, Jamba Juice, South Supermarket and SuySing decided to carry us even before anybody knew what Hope was about. I think that speaks volumes about the heart of a business when it chooses to be involved in something that invests in the country’s future.” Nanette went on to say.

” Asked about the team that made Hope in a Bottle a reality, Nanette says, “You’d be amazed at the number of people who want to help a good effort and Hope wasted no time taping the best minds in marketing, production, and management to make this effort a reality. I think that’s an incredible opportunity and resource that businesses overlook sometimes- the willingness of individuals who want to be part of something that makes a difference.”

"It says a lot about the companies that choose to carry Hope. We are very grateful for their support. It's through them that the idea of Hope is even possible." says Nanette Po who has spent the better part of a year working on Project Hope.

When asked about the future plans of Hope beyond Hope in a Bottle, Medved answered, “The problem that we are trying to address is quite a large one- and we have no illusions that we are somehow going to be the solution. All we aspire for is to be a part of the solution- so with regards to any future plans… we intend to just put one foot in front of the other right now and hope for the best.”

Hope In A Bottle may not plan to be the solution to the overwhelming problem of public education but it may spark a movement that can be.

Let’s all watch this, shall we?

Shoppingero/shoppingera, drink Hope, give hope with Hope in a Bottle .

Things we did for fun and some “me” time:

Entertainment Centre

The Entertainment Centre is an activity hub complete with video and arcade games, billiards, table tennis, karaoke rooms and a café bar serving refreshments.

Aryanna: “Let’s play ping pong, mom.”
Me: “I don’t want to.”
Aryanna: “C’mon, mom! It’s OK if you don’t know how to play. I’m not that good either. Let’s just try it. ”
Me: “Fine.” *serves*
Aryanna: “Whoa.”

I love surprising my daughter. She had no idea that I was good at ping pong. Hehe

We tried playing foosball, but we realized that we were better at posing. Haha!

There are ample computers for gamers or if you need to get online. An array of videogames and video consoles, including an Xbox 360, are also available.

Adventure Zone

Babies, toddlers, and parents will love this spacious indoor playground. The place has a drop slide and a children’s activity corner. This facility is complimentary for in-house guests’ use. You can bring your own nanny or avail of the resort’s nanny service.

CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La

The jewel for relaxation of Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort and Spa is the 5,714 sqm CHI, The Spa. Located on a rocky peninsula looking out over a private bay, the detached spa village complex is designed to be a sanctuary within the resort.

The spa offers several detached villas. Some are like residential units complete with a pool and jacuzzi. This is perfect for a bridal shower SPArty!

I booked a Healing Stone Massage at CHI. I have to say that it was the best 1 hour and 45 minutes I’ve had in a spa. Pure relaxation.

CHI healing stones combine all the benefits of thermotherapy, with gliding massage strokes to create a deeply relaxing and healing treatment. The use of therapeutic oils with the warm stones eases the muscles and restores the body’s energy and vitality.

Villas

Aside from the Shangri-la’s suites, the resort offers villas for families, honeymooners, or groups. They have different types of villas from treetop, pool, loft garden to specialty villas. They are the pièce de résistance of all accommodations.

Pool Villa

Luxury one-bedroom villa featuring separate living area, landscaped garden, pergola for dining, outdoor shower and a private lap pool. Master bedroom offers a king-size bed and a walk-in closet.

I told Tom that we should plan a family vacation again at Shangri-la Resort and get a villa for the family. Dylan would love it here too!

If you have the urge to party or hangout or try the restos and bars at White Beach, the resort offers shuttle services (from the resort to D’Mall, White Beach). It’s only a 15-minute drive.

Tip: You don’t have to be a stay-in guest to avail of the Shangri-la’s shuttle service. Those who booked reservations in their restaurants/bars can avail of it as well.

Our favorite pit stops at White Beach:

Julie’s Bakeshop for hot pan de coco and pandesal

We love the bakery's slogan: "Ibahin mo ang Julie's Bakeshop"

Real Coffee

We need our Calamansi Muffin fix! We find that it’s always best to eat them when they’re freshly baked. Take out ones never seem to taste the same.

Mañana

This Mexican restaurant is located near Boat Station 1. They serve yummy Mexican food.

For this particular trip, I didn’t enjoy the resto’s heavy meals. I think Mexican food at the beach tastes better when you’re hungover. Haha! Anyway, they serve consistently good food.

One for the road

Picture, picture!

Spotted: Comedian, Kaye Brosas! Take note, not “Kate Broas”. Dahil “Kaye” ang pangalan n’ya at hindi “Kate” at ang broas ay biskwet! Haha!

I had the opportunity to style Kaye for her recent TVC and she’s one of the most down-to-earth and funny celebrities I’ve worked with. She’s also a loving mom to a talented daughter. So happy to have bumped into her at the resort!

One last ride on the “Diwata” speedboat! Weee…

Shangri-la has it’s own lounge at Caticlan airport. It’s comfortable and has a flat screen TV.

Tip: Make sure to be aware of the announcements in the airport as no one will remind you about your flight. The lounge is merely a place for waiting.

We love:

Thanks to the Shangri-la staff for making our stay delightful! It’s good to know that wherever Shangri-la we visit, we get the same impeccable and friendly service. Keep it up!

What we will miss:

The white sand, the sea, and the sight of beach umbrellas

The cool and refreshing infinity pool

And marveling at the wonders of nature

The best sunset

I’m grateful for this vacation as it allowed me relax, rejuvenate, meditate and focus on what’s really important in my life.

Thank you Aryanna for being a trooper and for being the best beach buddy! I love you!

Visit www.Shangri-La.com for more info about the resort!

Tune in for a fun surprise!

We were able to avail of the Local Rate (discounted price for Philippine residents) for our room so I splurged.

Shangri-la Resort & Spa, Boracay is set on a sprawling eco-reserve, fringed by the foliage of Boracay’s lush hillside.

Since Aryanna and I haven’t seen the sun in such a long time, we were careful not to get sunburned — we swam and enjoyed the beach sparingly then explored the resort the rest of the time. Not sunbathing the rest of the day like what I used to do, gave me the opportunity to wander through the resort.

Things to do when you don’t want to do anything:

Relax by the pool

Hangout in one of the cabanas

Soak up the sun and go for morning strolls along the beach

Enjoy quiet contemplation

Listen to the sound of the bush from your private deck

Enjoy the soothing sway of the swing and…

the hammock

Eat, eat, and eat some more

Vintana restaurant serves breakfast buffet and a la carte meals. It serves a variety of wold cuisines. You can also dine al fresco with a view of the ocean.

The thinly sliced pork adobo loaded with garlic was the bomb! Don’t miss out on the crispy bacon too!

We couldn’t help it, we ordered carbs and…

More carbs! LOL

Lobby Lounge goodness

Tea time at the Lobby Lounge

During our last day at the resort, we were invited by Shangri-la Resort & Spa’s Director of Communication, Patti Javier to dinner at Rima. I knew Patti when she was with Ayala. Now she is making waves (no pun intended) at Shangri-la Resort & Spa. The resort has full occupancy and busy! Congratulations, Patti! You’re doing a fabulous job!

Rima restaurant offers Tuscan-inspired meals, masterfully created by Executive Sous Chef Gianluca Visciglia from Milan, Italy.

Patti wanted to introduce us to Chef Gianluca but he was on his day-off. I just wanted Chef to know that the dishes we ordered were molto buono! Grazie!

Patti also introduced us to Shangri-la Resort & Spa’s General Manager, Amit Oberoi. We had a short chat with Mr. Oberoi at Rima and he was very charming and engaging. Too bad I forgot to have our photos taken with him. Anyway, I’m sure there will be lots of opportunities for us to meet him again as Shangri-la Resort & Spa is now our new summer beach destination.

Thanks again Patti for dinner! Rima rocks!

Shangri-la Resort & Spa's Director of Communication, Patti Javier

Cocktail hour

This particular trip for me was a sobriety sojourn (read: no alcohol). I wanted to fully experience nature and wake up early and refreshed at the beach. That being said, mocktails were my drink of choice.

Pool bar

Alon is located between the swimming pool area and Shangri-la’s private beach. They serve refreshing tropical drinks and delicious snacks.

The Virgin Piña Colada was our favorite.

Sunset session at Solana

Solana lounge bar is perched on one of Shangri-la’s hills. They have several cabanas lit by tiki torches and a fire pit. They serve refreshing cocktails along with a tapas-inspired menu. It’s the place where you could end your day with your loved ones and friends and watch the sun disappear over the horizon.

Tip: You don’t have to stay at Shangri-la to try their restaurants and bar. You can have cocktail sessions at Solana or at the Lobby Lounge too. Just call in advance to book reservations.

Photo ops

Take lots of pictures for remembrance! Do it in every nook and cranny of the resort! Haha! “Full availment” na ito!

Natural beauty

Aryanna brought her fish-eye lomo camera (with film, you do remember them, right? Haha) and took cool shots of the resort. With her permission, I’ll try to post them next time.

Parting shot. Hahahahaha!

Aryanna and I did so much at the resort that it required more than two posts to be able to share them with all of you! Brace yourselves for part 3 of my Shangri-la Resort & Spa blog!

Find out next:

•more fun activities
•luxury pampering
•celebrity spotting
•a fun surprise

Shoppingero/shoppingera, visit http://www.shangri-la.com!

A familiar sight

What was more exiting about this trip was that Tattoo and Fierce Dong booked us at Shangri-la Resort & Spa. Thank you!

It was our first time to stay at the Shangri-la Resort. My husband Tom, who has been to this resort many times for work, gave us the 411 on what to do, where to go, and what restaurants and bars to try.  Ikaw na, Tom ang Guest Relation Officer! Haha!

We were picked up at the airport by the Shangri-la staff and they brought us to their Mabuhay Lounge in Caticlan.

A good start. Welcome drinks and cookies!

We stayed in the Mabuhay Lounge for around 15 minutes to wait for our sosy ride:

Travel in style. Shangri-la Resort's "Diwata" speedboat.

Aryanna and I were the only passengers in the speedboat. On our way to the resort, the captain/driver of the boat pointed to us Manny Paquiao’s beach house.

I’m curious as to how it looks inside.

PACMAN's beach house is painted white and with wave-like architecture details.

This is how we roll. Shala!

When you stay at Shangri-la Resort & Spa, you get picked up by a speedboat and get driven around in golf carts.

Another shot of the “Diwata” speedboat.

I tell you, once you ride the speedboat, there's no turning back! Haha!

Welcome to Shangri-la Resort & Spa!

The lobby overlooking the courtyard

Not your ordinary tree house.

The Lobby Lounge has a sweeping view of the ocean and guests can dine there al fresco.

Doesn’t the view take your breath away?

The room:

Well hello “Marshmallow Palace”!

Le view:

Mabuhay!

Welcome goodies: halayang ube, maja blanca and cookies. So yummy!

Our spacious balcony

The tech station

Le banyo:

The fashion:

O, di ba? May “fashion” talagang naganap! LOL

Waterworld

Shangri-la Resort & Spa has several infinity pools, two secluded white beaches: Punta Bunga and Banyugan Beach

There are a lot of places to swim in…

hangout…

enjoy nature…

and breathe in fresh air.

We haven’t been in the water for quite some time so we didn’t waste our time

Dive in!

Our Shangri-la Resort & Spa adventure has just begun. Tune in for part 2 of my Shangri-la Resort & Spa post!

Find out next:

•the gazillion (exage) things Aryanna and I did at the resort
•why we extended our stay
•and a surprise!

Shoppingero/shoppingera, visit http://www.shangri-la.com!