French fashion brand Camaïeu opens stores in the Philippines

You know it’s already summer when you see a splash of colors everywhere—especially in fashion.

So it’s the most perfect of timing for Camaïeu, France’s leading fashion retailer, to bring its vibrant and dynamic footprint to the Philippines. Camaïeu, a French word that means “tons of color,” is adding color and excitement to the local retail scene with recently opened stores in SM Megamall and Shangri-La Plaza Mall.

Camaieu store in SM Megamall.

Already with 1,068 stores worldwide (632 in its native France), Camaïeu is already available in 20 countries, including France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Morrocco, Switzerland, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan.

Since its creation in 1984, Camaïeu has made it its mission to offer women with better variety in terms of dressing up through fun, wearable, everyday pieces that are also very affordable. It makes shopping much more enjoyable because shoppers get to enjoy the latest fashion guilt-free as the brand presents on-trend pieces that are very affordable and are of high quality. Enjoy browsing through the racks of tops, bottoms, dresses and other one pieces as well as outerwear that are inspired from the latest global trends.

Camaïeu seamlessly links product design with a wide assortment of colors, giving it a fashionable edge among other retailers. It also makes it easy for consumers to create a fashionable mix: blending clothes of different hues and textures or pair prints with plains. Styling possibilities seem endless with the addition of trendy accessories, bags, scarves and shoes. Since the beginning, the brand has always been known to offer the best in fast fashion, which has consistently made it top-of-mind amongst shoppers.

Camaïeu in the Philippines is excited to present its vibrant Spring/Summer collection which is filled with all the summer must-haves that fashionistas would love to be stocking up for this season of fun under the sun.

Camaïeu stores in Ayala Terraces Fairview and SM BF Paranaque will be opening soon.

Surviving the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park challenge

The last stop of our whole-day countryside tour was a visit to the Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP). Since the original view deck has been damaged by the earthquake in October, tourists are instead brought to this new establishment in Carmen, Bohol.

Welcome to Chocolate Hills Adventure Park (CHAP).

To get a breathtaking view of the famous chocolates hills of the province, you need to climb 248 steps to get to the CHAP’s view point. But it’s worth the sweat when you get to see the sweeping panorama of grass-covered hills.

248 steps. Let's do this!

Easy!

The hills are alive.

You can also see the original view deck from the CHAP view deck. It's not as high as the original but the view is breathtaking nonetheless.

The original view deck (top, extreme left) as seen from the CHAP view deck.

This writer at the CHAP view deck.

It’s also up there that you can experience the CHAP Bike Zip. It’s basically riding a bicycle in the sky—suspended 100 ft from the ground! The Bike Zip is 275 meters per way so just imagine the thrill and chills you get when you’re up there. You get to bike from one chocolate hill to another.

Unfortunately, it was raining at the time of our visit so we were not given the green light to try the Bike Zip.

Are you game?
Photo courtesy of the park's Facebook page

But the Bike Zip is only the appetizer. Down the view deck is the 9-course adventure trail that four of us from the Bohol media team (Inquirer's Walter Villa, DZRH's Ruth Abao and boyfriend Jon) tried to conquer. The course became even more challenging because the rain would not stop pouring down. Hence, the slippery steps in all nine courses.

Thanks to Walter Villa’s GoPro camera, we have proof that, yes, we completed all nine courses to join the elite circle of only a few people who finished this adventure. 

And oh, I am proud to say that the staff told me I AM THE FIRST FILIPINA TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGING NINE COURSES AT THE CHOCOLATE HILLS ADVENTURE PARK (CHAP)!!!

These are the nine courses that tested our strength, endurance, strategy and most of all, patience:

1. Hanging Bridge (2 stages)

2. Islands in the Sky

3. Burma Loops

4. Burma Planks

5. Earthquake

6. Vine Walk

7. Jacob’s Walk

8. Tyrolean

9. Zipline

The last two courses are actually a combination of zipline and tyrolean. You only get to zipline on half of the course and then you do the tyrolean traverse for the rest of the course. Leaving the course is as adventurous as you rappel your way down.

The park also features a restaurant, souvenir shop, events place (there was a wedding reception going on when we were there), pockets gardens, and serpentarium.

Pathway to the restaurant and souvenir shop (to the left) and events place (to the right).

Souvenirs, anyone?

Viewing deck, straight ahead. Serpentarium, turn left.

The place was not yet fully operational when we were there. But it has already been visited by tourists, including America’s Next Top Model winner Sophie Sumners (who wasn't able to finish the course because she's afraid of heights). I believe CHAP is now open to the public. Check out details here.

Bluewater Panglao Resort: Giving Bohol tourism a boost

Bohol, the 10th largest island in the country, has been a slice of heaven on earth for local and foreign tourists alike. In recent years, the province has been one of the most-visited destinations in the Philippines. With plenty of things to do and places to see, Bohol has continued to beckon travelers to experience its natural and man-made wonders.

However, it is not a secret to many that Bohol has been experiencing challenges in the last two years. According to Walter Sultan, vice chairman of the Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, the province was brought down to its knees when it experienced a double whammy of an earthquake and a super typhoon late last year. Sultan adds that the one-aircraft policy in the Tagbilaran airport implemented in 2012 has also decreased number of flights from 14 a day to just seven, which significantly reduced tourist arrivals by 15 to 20 percent.

Bring this home and show your support for Bohol. 

 Here’s the good news: a tourism recovery plan has already been mapped out. “One of the important activities of our tourism recovery plan is improving our airline access. An international airport in Panglao is already underway and will be operational by 2016. In the meantime, we plan to expand the Tagbilaran airport to accommodate more tourists,” says Sultan. “We also have the Bangon Tours and we’re looking at coming up with a geological and scientific tour that will involve the areas affected by the earthquake.”

Heeding to the call of the local provincial tourism council, Bluewater Panglao Resort has been offering the Bangon Tours (“Bangon” is the Filipino word for “to rise”) since last year to encourage more tourists to come to Bohol.

Bluewater Panglao Resort resident manager Edison Navasa.

“The Panglao property of Bluewater Resorts is very active in helping boost tourism in Bohol,” says Edison Navasa, resident manager of Bluewater Panglao Resort. “The Bangon Tours package features discounted room rates, more or less 40 percent off of published rates. These are special rates to lure more people to choose Bohol for their next trip. And the response was overwhelming!”

Bluewater Panglao Resort features local materials in its design. 

Navasa says that guest profile at the resort is still dominated by Koreans, followed by Japanese, Filipinos and other nationalities. “It’s a good mix. About 30 to 35 percent of our guests are Koreans. Based on feedback, our guests love that there are a lot of activities that they can do in the resort,” says Navasa. “That’s our goal: to add more activities in our 5.5-hectare property so that our guests will truly enjoy their stay here and make the most of their vacation. We have two swimming pools and a beach front where our guests can enjoy water activities like snorkeling, glass bottom boat, kayaking, diving, hobbie cat sailing and stand up paddle boarding."

The signature ube dessert, featuring Panglao's proud product.

The resort also arranges for countryside and island hopping tours to allow guests to experience the sights and sceneries of Bohol. Although most of the churches are still under construction, one can still see past through the cracks the charm of these century-old churches. Most roads have already been repaired, proving that Bohol has slowly gotten back to its good shape.

A myriad of activities at the resort. 

Bluewater Panglao Resort invites tourists to rediscover the province because “Bohol is still beautiful” despite the disasters last year. For one, the resort offers a luxurious escape that honors the island’s natural beauty. Its Filipino architecture and design complement Bohol’s culture, inherent warm hospitality, and eco-focused initiatives. The Panglao resort, the youngest of the Bluewater Resorts siblings (that include Bluewater Maribago and Bluewater Sumilon, both in Cebu) aims to showcase local beauty through its structure, rooms, food, and services.

Despite the disasters last year, the resort never lost its charm. Its elegant, innovative and functional designs remain to be one of Panglao’s best.

Baclayon Church post-earthquake.

Loboc River Cruise. 

The media fam tour group poses for a photo before saying goodbye to the resort.

“Although there were some cancellations and rebooking, we are positive that the growth we have experienced since December will continue, especially that it’s already the peak season,” says Navasa. “It’s not difficult to sell Bohol because the place has already established itself as one of the Philippines’ most beautiful. And when you’re in Bohol, stay at Bluewater Panglao and we promise to show you the beauty of the province.”

(Published March 24, 2014, The Philippine Star)

He says, She says: 13 secrets to make it to your 13th anniversary (even beyond)

There are countless articles about this topic when you search it on Google. Admit it: when you read about these things, you make a checklist or a mental note of what applies to you and what does not, what you can do and what you can just ignore.

Since we’re in a long-term relationship, our friends would usually consult us on how to go about with their own lovelife. We’d like to believe we’re already experts on the topic, but that will make us stop learning about love and discovering things about each other. Truth be told, we’re also constantly working on making our relationship work—yes, even to this day because that’s just how it is. Our relationship is not perfect; it’s actually a never-ending work in progress. 

As we celebrate our 13th anniversary, we’d like to share 13 secrets that have helped us get to where we are right now in our relationship. You can do the checklist thing, but at least you’re assured that these things worked for us. 

1. Be the best of friends.

He says: We find great joy in doing simple things together, just like true-blooded BFFs. We are there for each other during our high and low points because we know how important it is when you know that someone cares. We’re very comfortable with each other that we can tell each other things that other people won’t even dare tell us. That’s the great thing about having a best friend: I know that whatever happens to me, she’s got my back. And I got hers. Always.

Best friends forever: Chot and Jerni.

Chocolate Hills in Bohol, 2010.

2. Differences? Accept and adjust.

She says: He’s quiet and reserved, I can’t last 5 minutes without talking. He adores LeBron, I have a huge crush on Kobe. He’s patience personified, I get irritated when I wait. We are on the opposite sides of the magnet. But that’s the beauty of it: remember that opposite sides of the magnet attract.  It also adds spice to the relationship, especially when you “trash talk” each other’s basketball team. Learn to accept your differences and use them to learn more about each other. Use a double-A battery (Acceptance and Adjustment) when dealing with low-power scenarios such as personal differences. Get it?

Kobe or LeBron? We saw them both here in Manila!

3. Love each other’s family and friends.

She says: A you-and-me-against-the-world love story may be romantic, but only to a certain point. It’s happier to have each other’s family and friends approve of the relationship—and support it all the way! Chot and I love spending quality time with our families. That’s also one thing I admire the most about him: his utmost respect and love for his parents and eight siblings. A preview of what he will be when he decides to have his own family!

With my family: Boracay, 2013. 

With his family: Nuvali, 2013.

We also make it a point to get to know each other’s friends by spending time with them (even traveling with them). I still discover a lot about him by simply being friends with his friends. My girl friends are comfortable having him around because they, too, love him. My little brothers, who mean the world to me, also love him because he treats them as if they are his own baby brothers. How can you not love a guy whom your family and friends love?

With his college barkada: Balicasag Island in Bohol, 2010.

With my college barkada: Festival Mall, 2011.

With his high school barkada: Alabang Town Center, 2013.

With my high school barkada: Loboc in Bohol, 2010.

4. Always say ‘I love you’ and mean it.

He says: Saying “I love you” doesn’t have to be an automatic thing. When you say it, make sure that you mean it. I say “I love you” because I want her to know how grateful I am for having her in my life. Why get into a relationship when you cannot and do not want to express your love for the other person? These three words is a lifetime validation of my love for this amazing girl and I will never tire of telling her how I feel about her.

Saying it with Mer-Nel's.

5. Remember important dates.

She says: Wonder why your girlfriend is mad at you when you don’t even remember doing anything naughty? Studies have shown that men are really poor with dates. But I beg to disagree. Men who are truly, madly, deeply in love with you will remember important dates (anniversary, birthday, movie date, among others). Celebrating monthsaries can be cheesy for some. But it has worked for us. Since we became a couple, never once did we let a monthsary pass without celebrating it. Yes, in all 13 years!

Valentine's Day, 2014.

A long-stemmed rose and healthy dinner to celebrate our 147th monthsary.

6. Find time to really sit down and talk.
He says: Every day is a struggle to survive the rat race. We are so busy trying to beat deadlines, finish meetings or submit reports. Because we are always in a hurry, we often resort to online tools to communicate with each other. There’s nothing wrong with that. But in our fast-paced life, we sometimes forget that quantity time is as important as quality time. We treasure moments in the car when we would tell each other about our day as much as we cherish weekends spent together getting a massage, pigging out and just discussing anything. By constantly talking to each other, you discover a lot about your significant other. So drop that gadget and start talking now.

Lobo Beach in Batangas, 2012.

7. Never let other people join in your fights.

He says: Keep private things private. Although you let other people in your life, don’t give them the passes to be involved in your quarrels. I know a lot of people who rant about their misunderstandings with their partner on social media. If you haven’t noticed yet, let me tell you: turning to social media (which is public and therefore open to comments, interpretations and suggestions) is a recipe for disaster. Solve your issues privately. There are things better kept between the two of you. Trust us on this one.

Apology accepted. 

8. Share lessons on love.

She says: If there are things you can share with other people, these are the nuggets of wisdom you gained from being in the relationship. You’ll never know, a simple advice could be the lifeline of a relationship that is on the rocks. If you think your experience can be of help to others, then go ahead and share it. You are reading this post because we believe that you may be able to pick up a lesson or two from our experiences as a couple.

Marriott Hotel Manila, 2013. 

9. Be happy for each other’s triumphs.

He says: We enjoy celebrating our accomplishments and achievements. Whether it’s a simple takeout lunch or a sit-down dinner, we toast to our triumphs. I do not subscribe to the belief that men should always be more successful than their partner. It did not make me less of a man when I took on the role of her “driver” and “escort” on special occasions like the launch of the book she edited or events she’s part of. I am sincerely proud of her as she has been my inspiration to fulfill my own dreams. She encourages me to become my own person and be a better version of myself every time. Be each other’s source of positivity and you’ll surely celebrate more happy times.

Surviving the dual zipline in Dahilayan Park in Bukidnon, 2013.

Jumping for joy in Coron, 2012. 

10. Do things together, especially traveling.

He says: In relationships, it’s important to invest in memories. Although we have different interests, we make it a point to spend time doing these things together. Case in point: just recently, we were both glued to the TV but we were watching different shows (mine’s the PBA Finals, hers was Asia’s Next Top Model). Different shows, different TV sets, different areas of the house (I was in the living room, she was in her room), but we were holding hands while watching.

Discovering Luzon: (Top to bottom) Baguio, 2011; Punta Fuego, 2011; and Legaspi in Albay, 2009.

Over the years, we’ve realized that if there’s one thing that brings us closer as a couple, it’s traveling. Her passion to explore places has obviously rubbed off on me. She introduced me to Mr. Airplane several years ago when I joined her on a trip to Naga. That was the first of our many travels together. As a couple, we've alredy discovered amazing and breathtaking places and basked in their beauty (in random order): Boracay, Bohol, Palawan, Cebu, Iloilo, Guimaras, Sorsogon, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Camiguin, Bukidnon, among many others.

Invading Visayas: (Top to bottom) Miag-ao Church in Iloilo, 2011; Guimaras, 2011; and Oslob in Cebu, 2012.

Perhaps testament to our love for traveling is our decision to celebrate our 13th anniversary here in the island paradise of Boracay. Travel with your partner because more than the destination, you will discover a lot about her.

Exploring Mindanao: (Top to bottom) White water rafting in Cagayan de Oro, 2013; and Camiguin, 2013.

11. Take care of each other’s health.

She says: You obviously can’t make it to your 13th anniversary if you don’t get your health on the right track. I’ve found it’s important for couples to remind each other about their health—food choices, exercise time, sleeping habits, meal time, among others. It’s pretty cool when your boyfriend sends you links to health tips every day on Facebook because—snap, snap—you are at least assured that he wants you to stay in his life for a long period.

Jogging, more fun when you do it together.

Ice skating, too.

12. Talk about the future.

He says: You don’t need to be allergic to discussions about the future. There is no point in committing to a relationship if you don’t look at the long term. When I decided to court her, I knew I wanted to be with her for a long, long, long time. Even when we were just a fairly new couple, we would share with each other our individual dreams and plans. As years passed by, we slowly started mapping out our dreams as a couple. There was no pressure, it just happened almost automatically. I guess planning for the future becomes more exciting when you know you'll be seeing the realizations of those plans with the love of your life.

Daranak Falls in Tanay, Rizal, 2011.

13. Pray together.

Need we say more? Put God at the center of your relationship. It may sound cliche but it is very, very true. And effective, too. Together, we thank and praise God for the amazing feeling of falling in love and most importantly, staying in love.

Spiritual retreat in Tagaytay, 2013.

Basilica de Sto. Nino in Cebu, 2012.

***

We’re not saying you have to do all these to make your relationship work. We cannot guarantee that. What we can only vouch for is that these things have worked for us in the last 13 years. 

No relationship is perfect. We even had arguments while this post was underway. But at the end of the day, it feels great knowing that you’re sharing your life with someone who is as imperfect as you are yet accepts and loves you for just the way you are. 

Happy 13th to us! We wish you more love in your life.

LUCKY 13: And we're back to Boracay for our anniversary!