When traveling, I am always fascinated looking at our tour guide because I found their job very appealing. There are times I mimicked them and acted like I am  tour guide too, so when I have read online through the FB page of Mayor Trinal Firmalo (Mayor of Odiongan) that there will be a free training for Tourism Promotion Services  through TESDA I eagerly sign-up at the Mayor’s Office, less than 30 minutes since it was posted (lol).

It was over a week, Friday late in the evening when I received a text message that the training will finally start, it was exciting but somehow head banging…

“Good day pls be informed that the training for tourism  promotion servicing ncII will start on July 2 (monday) 8 am at brgy budiong (s my dating rubix). Thank you”

The question is where is this place they called Rubix before? I have asked few FB friends whom I know to be working in the municipal hall, friends that were residing at barangay Budiong and even my sister asked her friends and coworkers who live at Brgy. Budiong but they have a unanimous answer “What is Rubix?”, “Never heard of it”, “There isn’t no Rubix here”.

On Sunday, we decided to look around Brgy. Budiong to find this place called “Rubix” my sister and her workmate concluded the meeting place, maybe is in the barangay court where it was near the bar called “Amigos” which is called “Cubes” before, so the texter might be pointing to “Rubix Cubes”?  Realizing that, we return to downtown, but me feeling unsatisfied requested to return to Brgy. Budiong again to find this place called “Rubix” and maybe until to Brgy. Canduyong to my sister’s disappointment, that she has to drove around again.

We didn’t find any, but going back to downtown Odiongan my sister saw a van with “Rubiks” in it and upon glancing I have read from their very cute building signage “Citadel Training Center”  so this might be the “Rubix” we are looking for. I blurted out that I already saw the van awhile ago, but wasn’t able to read what is painted because I thought the building was  a private home.

Monday, the supposed to be start of the training day. When I arrived at exactly eight in the morning, there were only two people waiting, I have asked first if I was in the right place to the person in authority. To cut the story short, there were only 10 participants present for the said training out of 25 expected trainees and as expected, they also got lost finding for “Rubix”.

We are requested to return at one o’clock in the afternoon and guess what nothing has changed with our number, there are still 10 trainees to be trained, the facilitators were disappointed but the show must go on. A short orientation was done, headed by Ms. Rochelle from TESDA and Mr. Ramos from the Office of the Mayor.

Well, the training was rescheduled next Monday to wait for more trainees or participants. If you are one of those people who sign-up and received a text message, but couldn’t find where is this place called Rubix in Budiong, please look for Rubiks Manpower Training Center, Inc because technically speaking it is Rubiks and not Rubix. It was just about 500 meters or more after Amigos Bar, you can see it on your right if you are coming from downtown Odiongan.

On giving proper direction through a text message, I hope someone must not shortcut or encrypt the name of the place because it doesn’t help at all,  people tend to get lost than to find the place, this is a must do especially if you are relying an information or giving direction to people unfamiliar with the place.

Owning a business isn’t easy like one, two, three. It was been a year since I officially started my own business at home, registering it to the municipal hall and pay my due taxes. It started well, but there are really some people who are abusive and you couldn’t trust when it comes to money.  I have more than 13  dealers and one by one they started becoming a headache, they don’t return items on time, they didn’t pay on time and much worst they didn’t pay at all unless you complain them to barangay court.  I visited two different barangay court so I could get my money back, one settled her account after a few days, but one is still unsettled until today when she was given more than a month to pay and the others they are paying bit by bit.

My sister had told me to learn how to say no and just don’t let them get items when they have past due accounts, but the dork me doesn’t listen because I just can’t say no and I just don’t know how to be tough. In this regard, I stopped ordering and getting new products so I will not have  a problem saying no, or they don’t have new items to get at my store.

Anyway, the outlet operator in town called for a meeting yesterday, but I wasn’t able to go because I am expecting a dealer to pay that day as we agreed in the barangay court. So it was only my mother and sister attended the meeting for me, where they told me I was one of the top seller and in top 4. Maybe if, I didn’t stop I can be in top 3 or 2 and I received more expensive gift than a stand fan. Aside from the fan, my name was picked randomly for the advance payments, I got a new blender and some small things.

Well the dealer came late in the afternoon, but she wasn’t able to pay fully and requested if I can give her another month to pay, so I agreed.

It was my sister’s 26th birthday yesterday and we celebrated it by eating dinner last night at Bantigue Resort as planned, it was like a double birthday celebration because it was my father’s birthday the earlier week. We left early from Odiongan, so we won’t be hurrying in the road since it is in another town.

We arrived at 8:15 in the evening and there wasn’t a lot of people except to three females having a good time drinking below the bamboo Eiffel tower where we sat before. Since, we are five people they decided that we should just use the table upstairs, we’ve ordered and while waiting my sister and I entertained ourselves taking photos on the balcony overlooking the well lighted Eiffel tower, the Big Ben isn’t lit.

We have ordered two beers (₱45/bottle) for my father and BIL, five servings of rice (₱75), fruit shakes (₱70/glass), pancit canton (₱110), sweet and sour pork (₱180), mixed vegetables (₱150), sizzling chicken sisig (₱150), shanghai fried rice (₱100), sizzling pork sisig (₱150) and a bowl of crab soup (₱110). Within 20 minutes the mango and buko shakes were served first and the rest wasn’t served until an hour, in my father’s disappointment. Yap, when the food was served we are already sleepy and starving because it was already 9:30 in the evening. I guess, we have ordered a  lot and it took them long to cook our orders and guess what, we really ordered a lot because we are not able to finish all of our food that we requested them to be takeout except for crab soup which I enjoyed so much.

We are told that the Shanghai rice is only good for 2-3 people so I have ordered extra five cups of rice, but when it arrives it is good for the five of us. The food at Bantigue Resort is exceptional in a very affordable price because they come in good servings.

Well, what’s disappointing I didn’t even received a thank you from my sister for treating her twice on her birthday, lunch at Ashley and dinner at the popular home of the bamboo Eiffel tower in Tablas.

BANTIGUE RESORT
Brgy. Punta, Looc, Romblon
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/biz/Bantigue-Resort-760704667473655/
Mobile No. – 0948 748 0724

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above written post was my own personal opinion and experience and might be different from yours.

My postal ID was already expired for two months and I just renewed it today, my mother and BIL went to town so I went with them and since we are starving for running a few errands in town we’ve decided to eat at Ashley Bakeshop and Restaurant near the new market.

We are frequent at the bakeshop buying breads, pastries, pizzas and even ordering takeouts sometimes, we have already dined in before but I was too procrastinated to blog about it.  Before, I texted my sister that we are at Ashley I have already ordered something for her, it is her birthday today. She is at work but she is able to go out for a few minutes as long as she asked for permission.

Ordering take only 15 minutes and as usual I have ordered AM7 for us, this meal consists of rice and fried chicken, pancit canton and ice tea for drinks,  but my mother wanted something new so she ordered halo-halo and pizza for herself.

If you are hungry  and wanted to eat a full meal for inexpensive price Ashley Bakeshop and Restaurant is one of your best alternative in town, their menu is inexpensive and comes in big servings.

ASHLEY BAKESHOP AND RESTAURANT
Cocoville, Dapawan, Odiongan, Romblon
Facebook page – https://web.facebook.com/Ashley-Bakeshop-Restaurant-471794836292244/
Mobile No. – 0948 748 0724

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above written post was my own personal opinion and experience and might be different from yours.

[ Tagged In ] Ashley Bakeshop, Birthday Lunch, Food in Odiongan, Restaurant in Odiongan, Restaurants in Odiongan, Where to Eat in Odiongan

It’s Father’s Day. Sunday afternoon and there was nothing else to do after going to church in the morning, we did a short road trip to the municipality of Ferrol, but actually we didn’t continue to the town proper, we did a U-turn and went back to Odiongan where we ate at the newly opened burger place, The Blocked.

The enthusiastic server gladly welcomed us at the restaurant, she handed us their menu after we are seated. As I look around,  the burger place has a western touch, just like the restaurant bars in Itaewon, there are different set of options in the menu for over ₱100, it was hard for us to choose which set to eat, the potato wedges weren’t available, so I have asked the server, which one is the best, she gladly explained every option and suggests the options that she’ll think we’d like and even suggested if we would like a serving of garlic chicken.

We ordered one fresh strawberry milkshake for my mother, two options of Prep, one Nerd and a serving of garlic chicken, each meal option has a free glass of blue lemonade.  While waiting for our order, I have asked my sister to go home and bring our father to the burger restaurant, but she said, he already had a glass of liquor and he can’t drive (but when we arrived home, he is totally fine, and even sulk why we didn’t bring him to the burger restaurant, lol).

Our order was served in twenty minutes, my mother and sister enjoyed their meal because they said it tasted good, but I wasn’t because I am still full from our snack and I didn’t like the burger, it has the taste of mustard sauce in it, the smell brought me back to South Korea and the mustard sauce I can’t even finish at home.

Well, I have not told anyone yet in this blog, but I am already tired of mustard sauce, eating beef burger with mustard sauce, the taste of it is making me puke already, when we are traveling if we are not eating a beef burger, we are eating sandwiches. I just ate my fries and chicken and wrap the burger to bring it home to my father as well as the garlic chicken I have ordered, my mother and sister was already full with their meal so they can’t help me eat the garlic chicken. The chicken was  a bit oily, so I have used the paper towel at the table which I think has extra pay because there was an additional fee in our bill (or is it for a takeout additional fee?), well some restaurant in other countries I have been  to, add additional charges if you used wet tissues.

You know what’s funny when I stand up from my chair and did a second look at my payment that’s where I realized I forgot to put another bill,  I put 10% extra, but then the money I left wasn’t enough (haha), so I immediately grab for my wallet. Jezz, I am trying to do something good, but it looks like I will end up being embarrassed if I didn’t glance back at the table, the server called my attention that I still have a change but I just nod and left.  My mother and sister laugh at me, retelling how once upon a time I left more than 20% tip when I said it was just 10% (I am floating at times).

The Blocked, is a newly opened burger restaurant in Odiongan. Their place was an old warehouse for copra (dried coconut kernels), and after a few renovations and enhancements, The Blocked arises. If you are looking for something new and tired of eating the usual burger you buy from the streets and students canteens, pay them a visit and try them. Their food is fine, the chicken wings were just  a bit too tiny for me (hahaha). Well, you get what you pay for!

The Blocked 
Barangay Poctoy, Odiongan, Romblon
OPENING HOURS: MONDAY-SUNDAY (Except WEDNESDAY) 3:30pm – 10:00pm (kitchen closes at 9:30pm)
CONTACT: 0918 668 8072

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above written post was my own personal experience and might be different from yours.

Today, is Independence day so it was a holiday. We decided to visit nearby town, but wanting to see more and breathe some more air we did a Round Tablas again. We started from Odiongan to Looc, Ferrol and to Alcantara then to Sta. Maria where we had our stop over to take some pictures, then to San Agustin, Calatrava to San Andres and back to Odiongan where came from.

There was of lot of progress in the municipality of Sta. Maria, the construction of the highway was already completed, the road became spacious and larger.

We really didn’t take long because we still need to return to Odiongan, we didn’t start our road trip early, so we don’t have an ample time to do dilly dallying so we continued our journey to the municipality of San Agustin, we stopped over at their town to buy some snacks, my mother loves their siopao so much eh.

Along the way, I was surprised to see that there was already kiosk along the highway, it was a good spot to see and admire the beauty of Mt. Payaopao. My sister then told me that they already saw it when they went with us in the jump-off when we did the anniversary climb, and since it was my first time seeing it,I requested her to stop so I can take pictures.

If there is one thing I hate, that is a wedding. Why, they are happy when I am not. Anyway, enough of self-pitying, we are invited to the wedding of a distant cousin, her husband to be was one of the basketball players of the team my mother manages, so as expected we attended.

It was a garden wedding, to the place which is very familiar to everyone since it was the famous wedding venue before other contemporary came out the market, the receptions of my classmates who wed last year was also took place at Lyn’s Fern Garden.

Well, unlike church wedding, the garden wedding wasn’t that long because there wasn’t a lot of ceremonies. So after the customary photo taking, is chow time. The couple were very happy, as well the visitors who ate  a lot (just kidding!).

Lyn’s Fern Garden was a good place to rent for birthday, anniversary and wedding parties especially if you are expecting a lot of visitors. It has a huge hall, big parking space and beautiful garden. If you are wedding on summer time, kindly asked or pay for fans, because it was freaking hard to eat when your sweat is running down from your face. I could not say anything about their food because it was long proven that their catered food is one of the best in town.

LYNS FERN GARDEN
Brgy. Budiong, Odiongan, Romblon
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/lynsferngardenvenue/
Mobile No. –  0920 438 6957

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above written post was my own personal opinion and experience and might be different from yours.

My mother, sister and I always clash or we always end up in argument because we have different views and opinion. They have millennial  mindset while I am little conservative, I am an old fashioned.  They both advice me to do liberated thinking and not to act like an old woman when I am not. They both said, it is now millennial and I should not be stuck up from the old days where everything is old like my mind.

We live near the church so I grow up attending Sunday schools, I lived with my grandmother for a short period of time, and during those time we both religiously go to church and I’ve been surrounded by elder people like her, and in my entire time in grade school I religiously attend Catechism, which made me dream to be a nun back then, those time there were Catholic elders who teach bible stories and verses to children in public schools, I just don’t know if it is still happening today.

As I recall, I remember telling my mother I wanted to be a nun when I am in grade school. She was surprised, but then she told me I could still serve the Lord even if I am not a nun, in my little mind I know my mother was thinking what will be our life, if me the eldest child goes to convent.

Anyway today, my mother told me to wake up, be smart and not to be stuck up in the past. The world is changing so I should change too and have a millennial  mindset like everyone else, because if not I will always be hurt.

My mother feeling stressed asked my sister if she can drive us to town, we left and when we are halfway there our mother realized she forgot to wear a jacket so we’ve returned home to get one, and that’s where we decided to do a night trip to the nearby town of Looc, making it possible my mother asked one of our cousins again to go with us, my father can’t go because he is already tipsy.

My sister and his boyfriend weren’t in good terms but she still asked him if he want to go with us when we saw him sitting in his friend’s house, he did.  It took us about one hour to reach the town of Looc, everything was closed so we decided to visit Bantigue Resort,  which rise in popularity in 2015 because of the well lighted Eiffel tower (replica), the famous landmark was made of bamboo and to add more attraction, a well lit Big Ben was added.

When we arrived, nobody welcomed us making us adamant to go inside. I have to ask where to go and what to do and that’s where someone from the bar finally asked us, if we are only going to take pictures or are we going to make an order.  I asked for their closing time since it was already 9 o’clock in the evening, was told they closed at 10 o’clock and since we still have one hour before closing time, I replied we are going to eat and we are five people. The woman guided us below the Eiffel tower replica, we look and order first from their menu before taking our time taking photos around the resort.

Well, since we are so giddy yup taking photos around, we didn’t realize that our food was served after 30 minutes. I have already seen the majestic Eiffel Tower in Paris and seeing the replica doesn’t excite a lot.

We have ordered rice, pork sisig, milk fish sisig, canton, mixed vegetables, extra rice and a glass of mango milkshake for me. Their food comes in good servings in affordable price. As expected, my cousin and my sister’s boyfriend ate like a cat, that if you brought them to an eat all you can restaurant the owner will be happy. Yap, we are not able to finish the sisig’s so we mixed them together and asked to wrap it for us.

We pay our bill and drove back to Odiongan in hurry because it was already late in the evening. We arrived in our house before 12 midnight.

Bantigue Resort is a private residence turned to a resort. The creativity of the owners show in every corner of the house. The collection of bonsai is relaxing to the eyes during the day, highlighting the huge Eiffel Tower replica at the forefront of the property. Bantigue Resort is open for swimming, Family Gatherings, Parties, Reunion and other Special Events! – asiatravel.com

BANTIGUE RESORT
Brgy. Punta, Looc, Romblon
Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/biz/Bantigue-Resort-760704667473655/
Mobile No. – 0948 748 0724

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above written post was my own personal opinion and experience and might be different from yours.

It’s mother’s day so we have planned to eat outside to celebrate it, but before we do eat out, we headed to Brgy. Taboboan to attend the wake of the father of my sister’s workmate. We stayed a bit and when we return to Odiongan we directly went to Mac’s Chicken and Barbecue Haus which seems very busy as I found out they’re celebrating Mother’s Day Buffet Special which is Eat All You Can for ₱249.00.

When, I went inside the place is full of people and there is nowhere for us to sit, I have met inside two of my high school classmates and one of them whom I found eating at the table in the hallway told me that they have no choice, but to eat separately. Nobody in the server notices us coming but when we are going out they have noticed us.

It’s around 7:15 in the evening so we decided to go to Greenfields Garden Resto-Cafe which isn’t so busy like Mac’s, we went to their air-conditioned room where there is one family celebrating and waiting for their orders. We feel relaxed that the restaurant wasn’t that busy, but we are not expecting that they are already running out of dishes, we have ordered their baby back ribs, but we are told isn’t available anymore, what is left is Liempo BBQ so we ordered five plates for us, a bulalo soup, extra rice and their carbonara pasta, but the server came back saying they only have three plates of the liempo barbecue, so we ordered sizzling sisig and a pitcher of their red ice tea.

Finding another restaurant to eat is time consuming, so I decided to give the plates of liempo to my father, sister and her boyfriend. My mother and I will just share with the sizzling sisig since Chicken Barbecue isn’t available as well. When the server went out, the woman at another table told us that there are lots of dishes unavailable, which we agreed.

This is our third time to eat dinner at Greenfields, the first two was fine, but the third one is bad. It took forever before our order was served. It took almost one hour, ten minutes before one hour to be exact, what is disappointing the bulalo soup was missing, they forgot about it and the red ice tea became a lemon ice tea.

Greenfields Garden Resto-Cafe
Barangay Tulay (near Petron), Odiongan, Romblon
OPENING HOURS: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM
CONTACT: 567-6258

Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. Above written post was my own personal experience and might be different from yours.