Gabby, My 6-Year Old Wordsmith

According to studies, the language development of kids are commonly more robust in 5-7 year olds. This is the stage when they learn that different words could mean one thing. And also learn that one word can mean different things like "orange" color and "orange" fruit. They have better communication skills at this stage.

No wonder Gabby is so into word play as of lately. He is more verbally expressive and intuitive. Asking questions about word meanings or putting meanings into words on his own. He's so vulnerable and child-like. And I enjoy his being very 6-year old child self. And sometimes it could get so funny.

Here are some of our conversations:

Gab: (reading a magazine) "Batman, the brave and the bold." Haha! Si Batman pala bold, wala syang damit, hahaha!

"Si Daddy pala parang si Batman e. Kasi bold sya. (We all know that his daddy has lost most of his head-hair, yes.) Gets mo?

"Kaya pala ang tawag Batman e kasi malake yung butt nya!" He lols at his own corniness.

His Kuya Zach had a temperature of 39.1 degree C last week. He said "E pano yan, namamatay na ba si kuya Zach?" Hindi naman. He's just down with fever.

The next day, Zach wasn't able to go to school. When Gab came home from school and Kuya Zach was sleeping...
Gab: Mommy, ano, si kuya Zach, nag convulsion ba sya? Hindi ba sya namamatay?
Me: Ssshhh! Ano ka ba? He's just sleeping." (Sabay hipo ko kay Zach e.)

G: Mommy, in-ex mo ba yung tab or ni-mute mo lang ung computer ng sound?
M: Hindi po. Ni-mute ko lang ung sound ng computer.
G: Ahhh ok!
May mga kasama pa yan e- computer's daddy, bonedog, etc.
Alam na kung sino ang nagmana kay daddy. Hehehe!

To avoid fighting over who's turn is it in the ipad, I make use of the "Stop Play" setting in the ipad's alarm clock. I usually allow them 30 minutes each.
G: Mommy po, can I play with the iPad po pls.....po? (grinning ear to ear)
Turned to his kuya: Dapat mag sabe ka ng please 'tsaka ng po para gawen ni mommy 40 minutes yung time mo.

We're talking about something and I jokingly said...
M: How do you sure?
G: Hahaha! Parang si Master Yorda ka Mommy!


You'll be turning 7 on December. I enjoy being a mom to you. Hope you can stay as cute as you are, Gabby. But I know you'll continue to amuse me in your uniquely cute way always.

Coco Beach: Day 1

Touched down Coco Beach last July 11 (2014) at around noon and we were greeted with fresh buko juice and shell leis for our necks. My sons automatically loved the place the moment we walked in.

Gab said, "Ang ganda pala sa Coco Beach, ha." with his funny accent.
Our room. It is so homey and cozy.

stairs to the attic

Shot from the attic

lounge seat

I and hubby would've chosen the bed in the main floor but the two boys didn't feel like sleeping in the attic bedroom. But we didn't sleep in yet.

After eating the pizza that we bought in Batangas Port (we didn't eat it before boarding since we're avoiding another throwing up scene that might happen in the boat or anytime then), we changed to our swimming attire and went to the main pool.

The kids immediately made new friends with three boys who are playing in the pool. Funny how Gabby say their names coz, well, that's how the boys say their own names and so that's how Gabby call them too- Oscah (Oscar), Bowdy (Bodie), who are brothers and Gregry (Gregory).
Silent Pool

After trying out the main pool, we visited the Silent Pool. It's quite a hike up the hill but it's worth it. The jacuzzi was full when we came but we were content with the warm water gushing down from it. I wonder why they called it Silent Pool but when I saw the place, the name speaks for itself. It's so relaxing in here with the pool surrounded by lush trees, bushes and flowers. Don't worry if you get thirsty, there's a bar where you can order drinks from.

By the time, we went down from Silent Pool, it's low tide already. Aaahhhh :( Anyway, there's the hammock to relax.

The kids got hungry for swimming again at the main pool. We ordered bacon, lettuce 'n tomato sandwich and french fries.
4PM is Happy Hour at Coco Beach!

Cocktail drinks are for Buy 1 Get 1! We took advantage of it and ordered White Russian. It's a mixture of vodka, Kahlua and milk. I like the combination of the ingredients but the vodka part is too strong for us who aren't really alcohol drinkers. We flushed it with water and it balanced the taste and acidity. I finished mine while watching "Zumba by the beach." Hubby didn't finish his glass. His tummy couldn't take the acid and you know him, not big into alcohol.

The kids tried the playground before heading up to our room to change for dinner.

Nice view of the sunset from our room

We rode the cable car on the way up to Coco Grill. Their cable car is a one of a kind jeepney being pulled up (and down) on a track to take you to destinations around in Coco Beach.

grilled jumbo prawns

chicken cashew nuts

Hubby ordered Chicken Cashew Nuts while the two boys shared the order of Pork Char Sui. They loved the food. The pork was so tender and yummy and the chicken is so tasty as well. My first order was grilled crabs but it wasn't available so they offered me jumbo prawns instead. I enjoyed the meal, only to get surprised at the end of dinner when we got the bill. I thought it's the same price as the crab and didn't ask before ordering but I was wrong. Anyway, I enjoyed the meal, ATLIT!

After lounging a while in one of the hammocks,, my body is begging me to call it a day. I and the kids went up to our room while the daddy stayed in Carabao Resto where wifi is available.

This is what we saw when we opened our room. The bed was enticing us to lalaland. I slept together with the kids while waiting for hubby.


Coco Beach: Getting There, Travel Time and Fare

Coco Beach: Getting There, Travel Time And Fare

It's our first time to go to Puerto Galera via commute with the kids. I and hubby went there before for our honeymoon via Coco Beach Express so no hassle. But this time, surprisingly, getting to Puerto Galera from Biñan, Laguna via commute is fairly easy as well. 

So, here's how we did our commute:

1. We rode a jeepney from National Hi-way going to Sta. Rosa, Balibago Complex.

2. In Balibago Complex terminal, we rode a van going to Batangas Pier. These vans are the ones parked beside the buses going to Alabang. This is the bus terminal in front of Jollibee between Target Mall and Mercury Drug. It took us a long 30 minutes to wait for passengers to fill the van but the travel is quite fast at only 2 hours from Sta. Rosa to Batangas Port. Fare is P130/person.

3. In Batangas Port, lots of fixers and vendors flocked toward us as we are getting off the van. The reasearch I did before this trip helped :D I told the fixers we are boarding Minolo then they all disappeared and left us to the care of a man who ushered us to the ticketing area and helped with our baggage. P230/person for the boat transfer to Muelle (Mwel-ye), Puerto Galera.

Then the unexpected happened. Gab vomitted as soon as we sat down in the waiting area. Maybe due to the rush and sudden change in temperature and surroundings, from the airconditioned van walking towards the ticketing office, it was hot and lots of people here and there, then we passed by the inspection area and inside the Port's waiting area. It's good that they have a nice bathroom in Batangas Port so I was able to wash Gab and rinsed his clothes properly. The dad also rinsed his pants which caught some of Gab's puke which is more of half digested burger sandwich from Jollibee. Ewweee!!! After I washed Gab, I let him hold on to a plastic bag if there's any more emergencies. Poor boy! Nahilo at namutla talaga sya. I let him sip some Gatorade to help regain energy.
If you have a car, you may park it in Batangas Port. There are two parking lots with minimal fees. The more secured one of course has higher cost than the other. But still reasonable as I've heard.

I know what we're gonna do today!

Atlast! After, 30 minutes, we are called for boarding time. The clouds added a little more excitement as we are on the way to the boat. It suddenly rained. But nothing can stop us now!
I chose Minolo Shipping Lines as it gained better comments around the web than its rivals. True enough, their boats look well maintained than other passenger boats docked in Batangas Port.


We chose a seat in the center, hoping that there wouldn't be another throwing up scene. The boys are excited and scared at the same time. Good thing, the boat was smooth sailing and the boys slept all the way to Muelle like they were being rocked to sleep, and they really were. Travel time: 1 hour.

4. From Muelle, we hired a smaller boat to take us to Coco Beach. Travel time: 15 minutes. Boat rental: P250.



If you're going to White Beach, you also get off in Muelle and ride a shuttle van for P50/person or ride your hotel's free shuttle.

Going Home From Puerto Galera

There are available boats always in Coco Beach if it's time for you to go home. Just ask the boatmen and they are ready to take you to Muelle. Again, from Muelle, you need to take the boat going to Batangas Port. MSL boats leave Muelle Port every hour so it wouldn't be hard for you to catch any. The last trip going to Batangas is 3:00pm. Secure your ticket from the dilapidated yellow building for the same price of P230 each.
Be on the look out for dolphins swimming around in Batangas-Mindoro sea. We saw two groups of dolphins and it's an added experience. :D

In Batangas Port, there are lots of buses that go to Sto. Tomas Batangas, Turbina, Alabang, Magallanes, LRT Buendia and Cubao. There are also vans going to Cavite and Sta. Rosa, Balibago. 
We were to take the van going back to Balibago Complex but after 20 minutes, we can't wait any longer. Anyway, what are the odds that there will be lots of passengers from Mindoro going to Sta. Rosa at that time? In summer months maybe. So when we saw that the bus going to Alabang is about to leave, we left the van and got in the bus. We're still not sure how to travel from Turbina to Sta. Rosa, so we paid the ticket going to Alabang (P130 each person). But when some passengers got off in Turbina, we saw the terminal going to Sta. Rosa just beside the road. Maybe next time, (wow next time!) we'll take the Turbina route from Batangas.

Sorry, this post is too long already. Standby for more of my posts about our Coco Beach vacation.
Enjoy! :D

While Waiting For The School Service

Zach didn't want a picture. Then I said, "Zach, tapos na!" He peeked from behind the book and I clicked the cam. Haha! When there's something funny, instead of laughing he would say LOLOLOLOL. Now I say, LOLOLOLOLOL!