The Holidays are a time for family, friends and even food! During this vacation time, you might find yourself traveling to different places and fear for your diet. Don’t worry! While the festivities always come with delicious food (and I personally you shouldn’t deprive yourself of that pleasure), you can still balance out your eating with fun physical activities to keep you fit! Let yourself indulge a little. Just make sure you keep in mind portion control and balance, and keep moving that beautiful body of yours!

I love to travel and whenever I find myself in a new place, I always look for new sports and activities to try. Here’s a short list of some places you might find yourself at this holiday season and the fun things you can do there. I hope it helps you with your exercise goals while you’re on vacation!

1. Manila

If you and your family opt to stay in Manila for the Holidays, why not use your free time to do all the classes and workouts you’ve been wanting to try but never had time for? Now that you have some down time, make the most of it by trying out a Barre3 class or giving Plana Forma a try. You could even get a day pay to a gym a join their classes. Whatever activity you’ve been eyeing, this would be the time to finally try it out. And to make the experience more fun, you could even go with your family members and make it a bonding experience!

2. Boracay/Palawan

Boracay and Palawan are definitely two of the top destinations in the Philippines all throughout the year, but even more so during the holidays. These islands are usually packed with tourists at this time of year and with the massive crowds, you might not want to do your run-of-the-mill beach activities like island hopping, snorkeling and sunset cruises. Boracay has great unconventional water sports like skimboarding and kite boarding and they offer lessons in both. These activities will definitely get your blood pumping! The thrill of trying something new might even get you hooked to the sport. Likewise, Palawan has a number of activities that are not so popular with the general public. In El Nido, you can trek up a limestone formation right behind the town and enjoy the view from the top. Talk to the local tour guides and they’ll give you a whole list of activities you can enjoy with family and friends.

3. Baguio

Since I was younger, I remember Baguio as the place all my friends go to for Christmas with their families. It’s a much laid back city considering its level of urbanization. Still, you’re sure to find a lot of fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Of course there’s the usual horseback riding at Wright park and golfing at Club John Hay. But what are some other fun, unconventional things to do there? There are a number of activities to participate in at Burnham Park like boating, biking and hiking. Be one with nature and enjoy the cool weather that comes with the –ber months! Looking to take a break from the city? It’s only a short drive from Baguio to Sagada where you can go hiking and visit hidden waterfalls and other wonders of nature. There, you will also find a number of subterranean caves to marvel at. You and your family are sure to enjoy the sights, sounds and activities this area has to offer!

4. Camarines Sur

Camarines Sur has only recently become a popular tourist destination. With the development of the Camsur Watersports Complex, Bicolanos living in the area have definitely noticed a surge in tourism. At the park, you can do a number of thrilling unconventional sports like wakeboarding, skateboarding, kayaking and boating. You can also go on a short road trip and visit Caramoan Island where Survivor France and Israel were shot. But I have to say that my #1 favorite thing to do there is swimming with the whale sharks. From the Legaspi airport, it is only a 1 hour drive to Donsol where you can hire a boat and guide to take you and your family out to see to experience the majestic whale sharks or butanding that populate the waters there. It’s definitely an experience you will never forget!

5. La Union

La Union is one of the most popular destinations for surfing in the Philippines and prides itself in being the surfing capital in the North. It’s a great place for both surfing veterans and newbies itching to learn! Many of the resorts there offer lessons for beginners so don’t be afraid of not know how to surf. Just show up with a positive attitude and willingness to learn and you’ll definitely enjoy the experience! If surfing just isn’t your thing, you can experience the wonders of nature in other ways. They have a very good ecotrail in the area for those who enjoy hiking, numerous rivers and waterfalls for a quick dip in pristine waters and the Bolikewkew rice terraces. All these activities can be great experiences for the whole family to enjoy!

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The Philippines is an amazing country with so many wonderful sights and little miracles of nature. Wherever you might find yourself this holiday season, I’m sure you will find a way to stay active while still experiencing everything the place has to offer. Be open to trying new things and stepping a little out of your comfort zone.

And if you’re able to stay active enough, who knows, maybe when you go back to your normal schedule you’ll find that your body is actually looking for exercise. Finding that you enjoy physical activity will make your weight loss all the more easier.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Yesterday, I was sitting on my stoop just after coming home from a productive day at work trying to relax my brain from the information overload of the day. Everyone was just ending their work days so the streets were teeming with people, old and young, beautiful and average, rich and poor. People from all walks of life just roaming the streets idly or rushing off to the next place they had to be.

It was a beautiful sight. Hundreds of people (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating here) going about their daily lives in a city where no one really cared what they were doing. Nobody but me.

I like to just sit in public places and stare out into the sea of people passing by. In my head, I make up epic tales of overcoming hardships and of love conquering all. That bald man standing at the corner waiting for a taxi to notice his flailing arms was rushing home to cook dinner for his loving wife and save her from her humdrum life. The pretty young thing strutting down the street in her tight skirt and stiletto heels begging for attention is actually a successful business owner who is smarter than you would ever give her credit for.

Each person has a story. I like to make up ones of hope and happiness which in turn only drive me farther on my journey to self discovery and growth. On one of my soul searching expeditions, I came across an essay about how we should not judge people we do not know because each one has a great story behind them.

God is not done with me yet. I am a work in progress.

This makes me sound hypocritical. After all, everyone makes some sort of judgment at one point or another. But truth still resounds in the words of the author. How can we judge something that is not finished? It would be like saying a painting will be hideous when all we’ve seen of it is a rough sketch, a few light pencil strokes here and there.

I am a work in progress and I will become a masterpiece. God is not done with me yet.

Slowly but surely. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute.

The ladied of Pole Academy Philippines under the training of Ed Aniel, the pole dance pioneer in the Philippines.

I really hope you enjoy this video! I LOVED making it! Can you spot me? Heehee. I love my PAP girls. They're all so beautiful.

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May 2011 - Mixed level students of Pole Academy Philippines
Music: "I Just Wanna Dance" by Chillitees with DJ Patch.
Choreography by PAP Creative Director, Ed Aniel.
Camera and Editing by Dan Gil

Find us on Facebook: Pole Academy Philippines

I'm back from the States and can I just say, what a food trip! Literally! All I did was eat and eat and EAT. And I am less than proud to say that I never once opted for the "healthier option" on the menu. Haha.

I think I must have gained 10 lbs. from my trip but I really don't regret it. That's how much I enjoy eating. And it might take a while but I'll lose it once I get back to my regular exercise schedule.

The food highlights of my trip have got to be:

1. Spinach salad from Yaffa Cafe at St. Marks - This was AMAZING. And it's pretty healthy except for the bacon strips! They served us a huge bowl of spinach with onions, fresh mushrooms, croutons and bacon with their homemade carrot dressing. It was the bacon and the salad dressing that made this one a winner! I had never heard of carrot dressing before I got there. It was kind of a really savory and chunky carrot puree with herbs and a hint of balsamic vinegar. YUM! I would definitely go back to New York just to eat there again.
2. Shake Stack from Shake Shack (in Madison Square) - Yes, I have finally eaten at the legendary Shake Shack and it did not disappoint! Everyone I was with opted for the Shack Burger. I went straight for the Shack Stack which is a single cheeseburger with a crisp-friend portobello mushroom filled with molten cheese. I died with that first bite. It was heavenly! And the best thing about it is that the serving size isn't too big that you feel disgustingly full afterward. It's just right! I was tempted to go back for seconds but by that time, the line was way too long for my liking. Now I kinda wish I had waited the 30 minutes in line though. Haha.
3. Chocolate Sable from Miette (San Francisco Ferry Building) - This was my go to shopping snack. It has a rich chocolate flavor without being overwhelming and overly sweet! It's crunchy and creamy at the same time. I can't even begin to find the words to describe this. All I can say is WOW! Even the Miette cupcakes are amazing. I believe one flavor ranked #5 out of all the cupcakes in the USA!
4. Texas Size Combo of Ribs and Steak from Texas Roadhouse - Their ribs here are so tender the meat literally falls of the bone when you pick it up. Perfectly cooked and marinated ribs plus steak? Have you heard of a lovelier meal? I haven't! I wasn't too sure how their steak would be but I went for it anyway and this little girl has no regrets. I'm such a carnivore so you can imagine how happy this dinner made me. Add a fully loaded baked potate and say hello to the yummiest heart attack on a plate EVER.
5. Everything at Naan -N- Curry (San Francisco) - They are by far the best Indian restaurant I have ever visited. Don't be fooled by their website. This place is seriously a hole-in-the-wall joint with rickety tables and chairs. But the food is well worth it! We had prawn karahi, chicken and lamb tikka masala, tandoori chicken, palak paneer (homemade cheese with fresh spinach, spices and seasoning), bengun bharta (roasted eggplant sauteed with peas, garlic, onion and tomato), biryani rice and garlic naan. WOW. Major food coma after dinner but I'd do it all over again.
6. Wild Mushroom Dumplings with Black Truffle Oild from Sino (Santana Row) - This Asian fusion restaurant and lounge has amazing food and alcohol to go with its fancy interiors. It honestly felt like a scene out of Sex and the City when I stepped inside. Wow. Usually places like that depend on aesthetics to keep business flowing but not Sino. They food was great! I especially liked their dumplings. I love mushrooms and truffle oil so there's no way this could have let me down but they added this sweet syrupy sauce to it that just made everything come together perfectly. I'm in love with this dumpling! A must-try if you're ever in the area.
7. A Double-Double Animal Style with Chopped Chilis from In-N-Out - For those who aren't familiar with In-N-Out linggo, that means 2 mustard cooked burger patties with 2 slices of cheese, grilled onions, pickles, extra sauce and jalapeno. My full meal consisted of that, animal style fries (french fries topped with grilled onions, loads of cheese and the In-N-Out sauce) and a chocolate milkshake. This was the ONLY major fastfood chain that I let myself eat at because they still hold the #1 spot for burgers in my heart. Awesomely unhealthy but it just makes me SO happy.

There are two more things I want to write about but those deserve a separate entry. I had the best breakfasts of my life on this trip and I will post pictures when I get to write about them.

I hope I didn't make you too hungry with this. I, myself, am starving right now after remembering all that delicious food. Off I go to munch on a Reese's mini White Chocolate Peanutbutter Cup.

Til next time!

I've stopped my pole dancing classes this month. So much has been going on that I really just didn't have time anymore. I miss it so much but there are some things I need to attend to before I start dancing again.

Tomorrow, I'll be leaving for the States for 3 1/2 weeks to take care of some family matters and all my friends and relatives are already planning get-togethers in the BEST restaurants. I love food more than you can imagine so there's no way I'll say no to eating out while I'm there. Wish me luck everyone! And pray that I don't gain too much weight while I'm gone. Haha.

I'm really just SO excited to go. I'll be flying to San Francisco tomorrow evening where I will spend 2 days with my family. After that, off I go to New York for the weekend! I've never been to the east coast before so I really can't wait for that. Two of my closest friends live there now and I thought I'd take a few days of my trip to go see them (plus the plane tickets were SUPER cheap). They have my whole weekend (technically not a weekend since I'll be there 5 days) planned out. We're gonna have so much fun!

After New York, it's back to San Francisco for me and time to get serious. I'll be with my family to take care of some things. We're definitely all going to have a great time together! I can't wait to see them all coz it's been years since the last time I was there. Quality time with my family and good, clean fun is waaaay overdue in my life. 

The next few weeks will be quite an adventure for me! I'll try to update my blog as often as I can with all my new stories. Ciao for now!