Buenavista Viewdeck
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On July 16, 2011
After Viet Ville, we passed by Buenavista Viewdeck which is also on the way to Underground River. People usually stop over at Buenavista Viewdeck to take a washroom break.
For the rest of the group, they can go inside the souvenir shop. They can choose from the numerous products on sale which they can buy as ‘pasalubong’ to their loved ones back at home.
The souvenir shop have all sorts of things. From keychains, musical instruments, tons of decorative displays and clothes.
Prices are reasonable. Bloggers, who I travelled with, bought several stuff at the JAZZ souvenir shop.
If you’re really tired, you can also take a short nap at the ‘duyan’ located at the side of the souvenir store. You can also just take a picture with it. You don’t see ‘duyan’ that often in the city.
If you’re hungry, you can have some small meals and snacks at the back of the souvenir shop. While eating, you can enjoy the beautiful view.
Buenavista Viewdeck is a great place to stop over as you can see Ulugan Bay from there. Ulugan Bay is where the Vietnamese refugees landed to escape the war. This also explains why Viet Ville is near the place.
What a wonderful view!
You can take pictures with the beautiful view as well.
A lot of people do drop by Buenavista Viewdeck as the view is just astounding! Perfect for taking pictures.
I do think though that the 2nd structure in Buenavista View Deck is better for taking pictures. You do have to climb the stairs but it’ll be worth it.
On top, you’ll see full view of Ulugan Bay.
If you look closer, you’ll be able to see the so-called Tres Marias. Tres Marias is composed of three islets standing at the Ulugan Bay.
If you’re traveling to Underground River, do not forget to take a few minutes to stop over at Buenavista Viewdeck. You’ll be so pleased as you can take home with you an awesome viewing experience. Don’t forget to take pictures!
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Buenavista Viewdeck
Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines
Viet Ville
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On July 16, 2011
We were set to go to Underground River for the 2nd day as part of the AirPhil Express Puerto Princesa Adeventour Package. Along the way was Viet Ville where we stopped over for a few minutes.
Viet Ville is the place where a little over a thousand Vietnamese people took refuge during the time their country, Vietnam, was ruled by communists. They took refuge in this community located at Puerto Princesa, Palawan provided by mayor Hagedorn.
This small community village, Viet Ville, is a popular tourist attraction in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Their french bread is one of the main reasons why people kept going there.
Catholic Assistance for Displaced Persons (CADP) setup Viet Ville for the refugees. In return, the Vietnamese refugees work for the CADP by manning the restaurant, the bake shop and the noodle factory located in Viet Ville.
The small community in Puerto Princesa is self-sufficient. I wish we tried the restaurant but we have to stick with our itinerary. Nevertheless, when I get the chance to go back to Puerto Princesa, I’ll make sure I’ll try to eat at Viet Ville Restaurant.
According to history, there were about 1,500 Vietnamese refugees in Viet Ville when it was first setup.
However, when ethnic Vietnamese lawyers based in United States and Australia started helping the refugees to go abroad, a lot of them left the community. This is particularly visible when you go the place. It looked deserted but actually there were Vietnamese refugees who decided to stay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Some reasons may be they’re contented already or may have married Filipinos.
We toured the place for like 15-20 minutes and just took pictures in the churches inside Viet Ville. There were catholic and protestant churches. There was a temple there too!
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Viet Ville
Kilometer 13, Barangay Sta. Lourdes, Puerto Princesa City, 5300 Palawan, Philippines
+639182437252
FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2011
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On July 15, 2011
Who would ever thought that a girl like me would appreciate the sexiest women party in the Philippines? Mostly guys look forward to the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2011 and indeed, the World Trade Center where the event was held was full of guys!
I’m just fortunate that I was one of the few bloggers given by PLDT myDSL Watchpad tickets to the party!
If you weren’t lucky enough to win tickets to the FHM 100 Sexiest Women party, I hope you were able to catch the live streaming from PLDT myDSL Watchpad earlier.
The place was really jampacked. We were the first ones to enter the venue and we can see several booths set-up. Brands like Belo, Premium condoms, Citizen watch, San Miguel Light, RRJ clothing line and of course, PLDT myDSL were there. All guests can take pictures with their models.
However, the highlight with regards to the sponsors, were their segment in the FHM 100 Sexiest Women show. Each sponsor had their models walk the ramp and dance while on it. I can feel how silent the men were. Are men that silent when they see enormous number of sexy women?
After the sponsors segment, there was an announcement that we’d have such a treat as we’d be able to see some of the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World finally! Eula Valdez (#46) opened the main part of the FHM 100 Sexiest Women show by dancing her way in the stage. Eula really just proved that age doesn’t matter. If you’re sexy, you are sexy!
Then we started to see the rest of the FHM 100 Sexiest Women do their own dance numbers! I was in total awe. I can’t help but admire those women!
Last, but definitely not the least, the host introduced the women who are part of the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2011!
I was rooting for Sam Pinto (#1) this year and I’m glad she won. BUT(!) when I saw Wendy Valdez (#53), I was like sooooo surprised as to how sexy she is! I shall say, you guys should vote for Wendy Valdez next year! She deserve to be at least in the top 5! Seriously, I never thought she has a perfectly toned body.
Here are the ladies that caught my eye at the party:
This was my first ever experience to watch the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World party. I shall say it was a great experience and I hope to watch it again next year. I really wish I can get lucky again like this year. It was a sexy party indeed! Well done, FHM!
P.S. Before the show started, Daiana Menezes (#44) was in the VIP area interviewing guests. I was one of the lucky ones chosen to be interviewed. Because of that, I was able to have a photo op with her 🙂
P.P.S. More pictures can be found in the HeaRty’s Haven Facebook Page.
Unilab Ideas Positive
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On July 13, 2011
We generate ideas numerous times. We talk about them when we go out with family, friends, colleagues & classmates. We even share our ideas with strangers. Why not make those ideas a reality?
In relation to this, I would like to share a very good news for students as Unilab Ideas Positive is back!
Unilab Ideas Positive (now on its 2nd year) is a two-in-one initiative where college students are invited to share their unique, creative & innovative ideas to address the health & wellness concerns of the Philippines. Unilab helps the students turn their ideas into a reality by guiding the students in further developing their proposals through a social marketing bootcamp and by funding the winning student groups’ social marketing projects with a total of Php 250,000 seed money.
Isn’t that way too cool?
All you need to do is form a group of 5. You must be currently enrolled in the same university to qualify as a group. Then follow the full mechanics posted in the official Unilab Ideas Positive site and share your innovative idea. You’ll never know you might be one of the student groups who can make a difference in a community! 
The hands clasped together symbolize the Bayanihan spirit of people reaching out and working with each other, this time represented in a variety of colors to reflect the youth’s diversity in background, upbringing, personalities, and way of thinking.
The differences may seem discouraging, but when held together by a common beneficial cause, such diversity produces a beautiful and powerful show of positives—both ideas coming from the youth, and the transformation in the health and wellness of Philippine communities.
I can’t wait to see in the news what ideas this year’s youth groups will come up! I especially am excited to see those ideas turn into reality! Last year, Unilab had three student groups making a difference as illustrated below.
Aren’t we glad that we are giving back to the community? If you’re a college student, hope you can influence 4 of your classmates and join the Unilab Ideas Positive contest! You’ll never know how far your ideas can go. Be a part of a great initiative for a better Philippines!
Iwahig Firefly Watching
Posted by Rochelle Sy Chua On July 10, 2011
I never thought that touring in Puerto Princesa, Palawan will be that educational. I was in total awe when we had our Iwahig Firefly Watching & Stargazing in Palawan. This was an optional tour in the AirPhil Express Puerto Princesa Adventours. I strongly suggest you take it. It’s a once in a lifetime experience that you’ll totally remember.
Iwahig Firefly Watching is an ecotourism project between ABS-CBN Foundation and the city government of Puerto Princesa under Mayor Edward Hagedorn. It started October 2008 wherein ABS-CBN gave initial funding. The Puerto Princesa community will then continue on with the project and sustain it.
The goal is conserve the natural resources of the city and provide the community opportunities. At the same time, it offers tourists a unique experience of the wonderful Iwahig river.
As we entered the place, Eric even joked that the lights displayed were fireflies. Well, I almost believed it but they were actually just candles hehehe. The place was very dark at night which is what the place should be as we can’t see the fireflies if the place is well-lit.
The Iwahig River Tour will need us to ride a boat good for 3. Each boat costs Php 600 (good for 3) but if you were coming from somewhere and you would want to experience the food too then you can go for the Php 1,100/person fee which includes transportation via van and dinner 🙂
I still suggest you go for the AirPhil Express promo so you don’t have to worry about anything.
Before we ride on the boat, we were asked to wear life vest and conical hat (cute!).
It was pitch black and I had a hard time taking pictures. Honestly, I decided to stop taking pictures altogether when the 45-minute boat ride started. I just enjoyed each and every minute of the tour.
Seeing the colonies of fireflies was totally astounding! And even in the waters, when you move your fingers, you’ll also see the amazing bio-luminous planktons. It just shows that the environment is clean and not polluted (or else, they wouldn’t be there!).
I listened intently to the boatman who shared so much information about Iwahig River, the fireflies, the stars, the mangroves and the planktons.
The boatmen are volunteers and they do it mainly for charity 🙂 Do you know that they are even trained by experts? You’ll notice it when you get to experience the Iwahig River tour and listen to them. They obviously know what they’re saying and you can feel their passion. They have my respect!
Here are just some of the things that I learned from the awesome Iwahig Firefly Watching and Stargazing tour:
- Fireflies are winged beetles (they are not flies).
- The light of fireflies came from their lower abdomen (not from their tails as shown in movies).
- there are no crocodiles in Iwahig River
- Frogs and Bats are Fireflies’ predators.
- Fireflies cannot hear and make sounds (not scientifically proven but this was an assumption of the volunteers in the Iwahig River project)
- Presence of fireflies and planktons indicates a healthy and thriving ecosystem.
- Fireflies only lives for 2 months.
- Male Fireflies are bigger than female fireflies.
- Male fireflies illuminates stronger showing more power (or more machoness hehe :P).
Iwahig Firefly watching is definitely one of the must do in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. With this experience, I can truly say, WOW Philippines!
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Iwahig Firefly Watching, Mangrove Eco Tourism & Wildlife Park
Highway km. 20 Barangay Iwahig Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, Philippines