Casa Primera Hot Spring Resorts - Private Pool in Pansol, Laguna

Mabuhay! What is up? How's everyone? It's been ages! Haha. So, last October 20-21, I was in a Private Pool in Pansol, Laguna with some amazing people. I was at the same resort, different villa though, two years ago. Hello, Casa Primera Hot Spring Resorts - it's been a while!! ☺

Casa Primera Hot Spring Private Resort Villa 4 - Pansol, Laguna

So, like I said, circa 2016, I was at Casa Primera (Villa 2) with my colleagues. I was the one who inquired and booked Villa 2 for us. In short, organizer. Haha. During that time, I find them different among others. Why? Booking pa lang, alam mong organized na. Same thing when we arrived. They have this check list of stuff they provide their guests which are needed to be returned upon check-out (of course, ☺). And the crew were very attentive and very generous of their service and time. May pa-towel pa sila back then. Nice, right? Parang, ask them, they have it. If not, they will do something to get it for you. ☺

Casa Primera Villa 2 (photo taken 2016)

This time, we spent one night in Villa 4. See, Casa Primera is not your usual Private Resort in Laguna. Why? 

1. It is spacious. When they say that the place is good for 45 pax, 45 pax can really sleep comfortably with beds and all that. Yung iba kasi, let's admit it, beds are not enough. 
2. Aside from the warm water in their pools (water is so clean!!), they have a billiard table, darts, videoke (take note, old to new songs, they have it, umabot tayo kay Shanti Dope. Ganong level cos it's always updated), you can play table tennis, too. 
3. The place is kid friendly, too. Kids have their own spot. How sweet, yes? 
4. The materials used in their beds are not substandard. Hindi tinipid. Their bunk beds do not move at all when the person on top is moving or going down. Importante saken yun. Ayoko maistorbo pag tulog. Haha! 
5. May bidet hose! O di ba Pinoys are bidet-lovers e. Haha. Plus the rainmaker overhead shower pa.
6. They let you bring your stuff so you can cook, no corkage yan. They will let you do what ever you like (wag ka lang manira, bes, bayad ka sige. lol), but of course, in the event you need any assistance, staff are very helpful. 
7. And the price? Reasonable, as I always say. Their tag line "Dito ka na sa sigurado" wouldn't be compromised. It's like your home away from home. Thumbs up. Lakas maka-hotel e.
8. And they have their own drainage system. This is a plus. Nagets ko na 'to nung tumanda ako. Haha. Dati wapakels ako, maka-swim lang. So, sila na talaga e!

I have some snaps to share! Look how beautiful Casa Primera is. The architecture, the design, chos wala ako alam sa ganyan but maganda talaga sya. I hope my pictures will give justice to its design. Haha. You will truly have a good time. Soon to open though, is Casa Tropica. We were privileged enough to see how it's being built and I tell you, it's very promising. Excited to see those as well and share with you! Soon enough. ☺

Here ya go! ☺

Casa Primera Villa 4 

Chillin' - Casa Primera Villa 4

Casa Primera Villa 4 - view from the 2nd floor

Swimming - Casa Primera Villa 4

Casa Primera Villa 4 at night

Casa Primera - Our Room - Super spacious!

Casa Primera - this one is a smaller room

Casa Primera - Your own veranda

Casa Primera's Grand Staircase lol 

Casa Primera's Washroom downstairs

Casa Primera's Washroom downstairs

Casa Primera's Washroom in our room

Kid's will definitely enjoy, too

Billiards, anyone?! 

Casa Primera's Play Area

Table Tennis & Darts

The millennial Videoke Machine - only at Casa Primera

with the Millennial Remote Control, too - only at Casa Primera

Parking area can accommodate 6 cars

The Original Buko Pie! Rapsa!

HOW TO GO TO CASA PRIMERA HOT SPRING PRIVATE RESORTS:

Address: 
Daang Pag-ibig St., Nayong Maharlika VIllage, Brgy. Pansol, Calamba City, Laguna 4027 

Private Vehicle: From Manila, head down south via SLEX and take Calamba Exit. Drive straight towards the Calamba town proper junction and turn right. Drive another 8km and when you see the Iglesia ni Cristo church on the left side, turn left on the next street and follow the Casa Primera Laguna Hot Spring Signages.  PS: You can also use the WAZE or GOOGLE MAPS app on your smartphone. Just search for “Casa Primera”

Public Bus: From Manila, take the HM or Greenstar bus, en route to Sta. Cruz, Laguna. Their terminals are located at the corners of Buendia & Taft Ave.. These buses will bring you within reach of the resort. Once you reach the National Hwy in Calamba, look for Monte Vista and Southwinds resort on the right then Iglesia ni Cristo church on your left. You can get off the bus and follow the Casa Primera Laguna Hot Spring Signages.

https://casaprimera.com/location


RATES:
https://casaprimera.com/private-resort-in-laguna

CONTACT THEM:

Mobile | Viber | WhatsApp:  09175389849 / 09257983002
Manila Landline: (02) 9983002
Skype Username: casaprimera
Email: info@casaprimera.com
Website: https://casaprimera.com/



speak from the heart, 
pong 🐢💙

Pong Travels: Mt. Talamitam and Dudong Cove

Hello! Bundok hits muna tayo after magpalamig sa Estados Unidos. Mt. Talamitam! 🐢

[March 31-April 1, 2018]

It was my first summit of 2018! I've been to Mt. Talamitam roughly 10 years ago and the beauty of the mountain still has not changed. This is considered a minor climb and recommended for beginners, too. Difficulty Level: 3/9.☺

PissDrunx, Mt. Talamitam Summit

First climb after my US stint and I tell you, it was really tough. Haha. When I climbed this mountain 10 years ago, I have my bag with me 'til we reached the summit. And now, I didn't have anything w me - just myself, yet twas a struggle. Lack of exercise and lots of fats - yeah. Thankfully, I have very supportive friends who kept pushing me - almost literally, too. Haha. 

Mt. Talamitam - 10 years later with Yo, we didn't have a copy of the photo 10 years back - sayang!

The climb was also a celebration of Ornap's birthday. He works overseas, so it was a bit of a reunion of our barkada which we call PissDrunx. As always, it was fun, chill and w tears, too? (Bakit tayo may tears, Jong? Hehe. Ton kasi e. ♥) After the climb, we headed to the beach (it didn't have a name, so we just called it the Dudong Cove). Originally, we plan to settle at the Papaya Cove but it was so crowded. It was my first time to get drunk after so many years. But I guess it's fine as am with the right set of people. It was my first time to ride a boat as in a little boat under just the moonlight with no life vest! Crazy. Lots of things happened that weekend. Haha. Lasheng e. And am literally smiling while am typing. The kwentuhan leveled up a bit - maybe because now we're older. Oh well. Fun times. Lasheng times. PD times.

happy lunch photo

Good times - well, not so. (Sorry, Dude! Di ko kayang galit ka saken, confirmed.)

Mt. Talamitam - Topher, me and the Dude I was referring to

Some snaps below. Full album (pics + videos) here. 

Mt. Talamitam - mga pogi sila - yo, jorge, topher and birthday boy, ornap

Mt. Talamitam GP edit - Topher

Mt. Talamitam GP edit - Pong

Mt. Talamitam GP edit - Jorge

Tagaytay Brekky

Mt. Talamitam pababa na Saudi Pose

Mt. Talamitam - the "baby, are you okay?" pose - haha

picture muna before leaving Dasma

Super touched with this keychain! Thanks, Dude! #simplethings #bigjoys

How to go to Mt. Talamitam:

Public Transpo: Ride a bus bound to Nasugbu. Drop off point should be Sitio Bayabasan. Fare is about PHP120.


Nasugbu Bus Terminals:

1. DLTB Bus Terminal in Buendia
2.  San Agustin Bus Terminal in Pasay

Private Transpo: Take the South Super Highway then exit to Sta. Rosa then go straight to Tagaytay. Do a right turn and go straight until you reach the Tagaytay-Nasugbu Highway. Go straight until you reacj Km 83, Sitio Bayabasan which is Mt. Talamitam's jump-off. 

• Is a guide required? - They are requiring it now, but we managed not to. We were there March 31 for a dayhike. Minimum is PHP300-PHP500, it depends.
• How much is the registration fee? PHP40 
• Shower Fee: PHP20 

Remember: Talamitam is an open mountain so it can be very hot during summer. Make sure you have everything you need to protect yourself from the sun. It'll be worth it. 

 
"Leave nothing but foot prints,take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time." Enjoy! ☺


speak from the heart, 
pong 🐢💙

Pong Travels: Bataan - Pawikan Festival 2017 - Help Save the Turtles! 🐢

Ola! 😍

How is everyone? In reference to my previous kilig invite from Bataan Tourism (First Invite Everrr!) two weeks ago, ito na, this is it! I am finally writing about it! 😍

So long, Dude! 

♫♪ "Pawikan sa Morong, Bataan, Morong Bataan, Morong Bataan; alagaan pagkaingatan, pagkaingatan, pagkaingatan. Halina't sumabay iwagayway ang kamay, tuklasin ang pawikan sa Morong, Bataan. ♫♪ - This is the oh so catchy Pawikan Festival Theme Song (pardon the video's quality - my bad) that made us LSS (Last Song Syndrome) until we reach Manila. 😂 

 A day before the event, we arrived in Bataan around dinner time and we headed straight to the Bataan Tourism Office to get our Pawikan Festival shirts and Media ID. Right after that, we headed to Bataan White Corals Beach Resort and Hotel to get settled for the night. At this time, I had the chance to have a chit-chat with my fellow bloggers and get to know them. Sweet. 💕 Bataan White Corals Beach Resort is such a beautiful place - I wish I had a drone to have a perfect view of the place - soon enough! 😉

The annual Pawikan Festival concluded last November 25th at the Pawikan Conservation Center in Brgy. Nagbalayong, Morong, Bataan. 

So, what is the Pawikan Festival all about? It is basically raising awareness on how to save our endangered and beloved Pawikans. When baby Pawikans are released in the ocean, it will take them 25 years to go back via imprinting which I find so amazing that after a long time, they're able to come back, same place where they were born.  

getting ready to be released. 😍

Not only that, Pawikan Festival will also make you feel and love the rich Filipino Culture. I can indeed say that while am there, given that kind of opportunity, I just told myself, "ang sarap maging Pilipino, nakakaproud." Imagine, the people who used to get the eggs and eat them after Mommy Pawikan had laid them, now they are the ones protecting them. Sweet volunteers. 💕 And the Festival itself - the preparation, the people who put their thinking hats on, their time and their dedication and effort is just simply amazing.

Walk for a Cause started at 5AM

Mang Manolo, Chief of the Bantay Pawikan, delivers his speech about the Conservation Center's accomplishments as Gov. Abet and Sen. Villar looks on

.

PUP Banda Kawayan performs at The Pawikan Festival

Turtle-Inspired Body Painting

It's not only during the Pawikan Festival that we can contribute in Pawikan Conservation's Awareness. Everyday, by just simply throwing our trash in appropriate trash bins is already a big thing. Turtles are often trapped by the rubbish thrown in the ocean. We can definitely stop this, right? Easy. Just by simply being humane. This does not apply to turtles only but the entire ocean. Marine life is so beautiful and in order to maintain that, compassion and discipline are what we need. 😀

Pawikan Conservation Center has an aquarium where they keep rescued/injured turtles 

Releasing of hatchlings is done everyday (morning and by sunset time). So, if you want to witness and to learn more about it, everyone is welcome to go to Pawikan Conservation Center in Morong, Bataan. 

beaches should be clean to ensure safe passage

Sunset releasing of the hatchlings. Beautiful! 

HOW TO GET THERE:
1. Take Victory Liner bound to Olongapo
2. Get off at Olongapo Bus Station then ride a baby bus or a jeepney bound to Morong.
3. Ride a tricycle going to Pawikan Conservation Center (Entrance Fee: PHP20, open from 8AM - 5PM)
         There are several beach resorts in Morong where you can stay. But you can also stay at The Pawikan Conservation Center at a minimal price (cheapest is at PHP1000).

CONTACT INFO: 
Mang Manolo of Bantay Pawikan - 09213602842
Website: http://bataan.gov.ph/tourism/ 

HOW TO HELP? 
Share this page. Blog it. Volunteer. Donate in cash or in kind (get in touch with our lovely Bataan Tourism Folks, click website above). Be humane. 


Simple take aways and hanash from this event:

1. Sarap maging Pinoy. Konting push pa, kaya nating lahat basta may disiplina. Sobrang ganda ng dagat at ng kalikasan! Yung kultura, iba, alam mo talagang may malasakit and yung bayanihan, andun talaga. 
2.  Filipinos are indeed a happy and a talented bunch! 
3.  It's good to meet people who has the same passion as yours. It was my first time meeting Milet, Allan, Claire, Celine, Dennis, Mujee, Kuya Vandolf, Miss Tina, Miss Danica, Mommy Jinkee and Daddy Ruel but I felt at home right away. Hope to see you again on the road or somewhere, guys. 💋

1 Bataan
Daddy Ruel, Milet, Claire, Me, Allan, Celine, Dennis, Mommy Jinkee, Mujee

speak from the heart,
pong 🐢💙