Gone for the weekend: The historic Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan

i have this terrible feeling that i’d be busy in the coming weeks. i’ll be taking on another role at work, leaving marketing behind and will start anew as data analyst/CRM officer. so i’m posting where i’m heading this summer as early as now! =))))

summer for me starts at around late march and for this year, i’ll mellow it down a bit. i’m usually up for adventure when traveling and loves to go to places that’s hard to reach like last year when we went road tripping to Padre Burgos, Quezon and camped out in an island there. for this year, i just wanted to chill, relax, and most importantly rest so i’m heading to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Bagac, Bataan.

to be honest, this will be the one trip that i’ll be shedding a bit more money but i think its gonna be worth every cent (crossing fingers). i love how serene the place could be. its also a plus that its a historical tour too. i’m a history junkie, i love old stuff, stories from the past, et al. all the houses there in Las Casas has a bit of history and story in it so i really can’t wait to take a tour back in time! =)

here are some pics i’ve gathered while making a research about the place:

some of the houses in Las Casas. the owner, Mr. Acuzar, saved most of these houses from getting demolished and brought them all to Bagac, Bataan. How does he do it? well that’s what i want to find out when i get there!

this is the hotel where guests stay. i think its a replica of the buildings in Escolta, Manila (not sure though but i’ll let you know when i get the story behind this wonderful building). i’m thrilled coz i’m staying overnight here, i’m dying to know what it feels like to sleep in one of the rooms of this building. plus i heard from frequent guests of Las Casas that the hotel staff offers “old world” service to guests there. by old world i mean they’re serving the guests same as what the maids back in Rizal’s time were serving their masters. so that’s another experience i dont want to miss.

another great experience will be the cultural show happening in this plaza (on the picture) every night. heard it’s a night of bonfire, dance and music! =)

i’m simply thrilled taking a look at these photos! its an inside peek to what those historical houses have.. now i really can’t wait to get there! =)

this is one of the pools in Las Casas. it was built to imitate a lake/pond where children back those days used to take a bath or take their carabaos to have a drink. i heard there’s an infinity pool too! =)

and this is the beach front! ah, sunsets gonna be majestic here.. =)

with all the rugby & soccer trainings i’ve been to plus the stress i get from work, i definitely deserve a break in a place as lovely as Las Casas. So i’m marking my calendar, on March 11, 2012, i’ll see you in Bagac, Bataan! stoked and can’t wait!

there are still a lot of places to discover and its definitely more fun to do it here in the Philippines! Keep on moving your feet guys! =)

P.S: I promise to make another detailed blog entry of this trip to Las Casas for you guys! =)

Bostik 10s League at Nomads Sports Club (Saturday, February 18, 2012)

RUGBY AT THE HOME FRONT: So before we gear up for the most awaited Rugby 7s event here in Asia, the Hong Kong Sevens happening this March, check out some  Rugby happenings here in Manila.

Last saturday, February 18, 2012 was indeed a good day for Philippine Rugby as the 3rd round of Bostik 10s League commenced at Nomads Sport Club in Paranaque with Alabang Eagles, Alabang Ibons, Nomads, and Globe Immortals leading the pack  for the men’s team and Team Xena (formerly Team GL) leading the women’s team  (in terms of standing).

i was suppose to play for Team Xena but unfortunately I got injured while in training. Doctors told me its Patellafemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) and will be sidelined again for 3 weeks and do therapy to strengthen quads, hamstring and inner thigh muscles. this is my second major injury after I pulled & torn my right calf muscle last year (in Rugby traininng too). its a definite setback i have to admit and i was getting depressed and all for just sitting on the sidelines and watching my mates play and have fun. but the good thing about this whole getting injured stuff is that i was able to indulge the other love of my life which is PHOTOGRAPHY!

Aside from training in PRFU’s Rugby 101 program, I do volunteer work for them every now and then (worked as Liason Officer last December for the Division 2 Under 20s game held in Manila) and made good friends with the Admin officers and the coaches so I was thrilled when Junnel asked me to be the “sort of official” photographer that day. armed with my Nikon D5000 and just my kit lens (18mm-55mm) plus the trusty point-and-shoot Nikon camera of PRFU, i managed to get some good shots last saturday!

Behind the scene photos:

at the match officials tent before the game starts with (l-r) LO Nikki, PRFU Admin Officer Junnel, and LO Mika! Kuya Ren and Ms. Precious at the back chatting.. =)

two of my most favorite coaches: Coach Expo & Coach Grant! their one of the world’s finest! =) took this photo while they’re busy talking about the weather i think! =)))))

yehey! may picture na si Junnel! =)))) (from left to right) my good friend Zsazsa with Nikki & Junnel! i’m not sure what’s the name of the guy at the back!

this is a mix of players from all the women’s team who participated last saturday: Team Xena, MAAP, and  Alabang Bullets.. the girls warming it up before the big game! =)

and still all smiles after a tough game! =)

We’re also honored to have Cebu Dragons as our guest last saturday! They may have been beaten by Alabang Eagles but we cannot deny that these lads fought with all their might! Mga Bai! You have all my respect! hopefully we get to see more of them in the coming games!

man of the match gets this baby from Hardy’s! =)

and last but definitely not the least, 3 of my favorite photos that day!

i got so lucky that these two lads tackled one another near the area where i’m standing so i managed to capture the intense moment. Raging Bisons (in black) versus Manila Vipers (in red). the one in black is a good friend of mine and a former LO too for the U20s event last December, Noel Villa. It wasn’t surprising that he got himself to rugby since before we even started volunteering for PRFU, he’s been a fitness buff and sports junkie too! proud of you Noel! you really had it in you! =) although i have to say that the one in red nailed it! kudos for a priceless game face and superb battle cry! =)))))

the picture is a bit dark but i didn’t brighten it up coz I wanna emphasize the time of the day this photo was taken, its twilight and the two teams (Hapons and Manila Nomads) are still battling it out at the line throw out.. adds drama to the pic don’t you think.. =)

i also had a huge respect for the players of Hapons (in white). i’ve been seeing a lot of “Oji-san” (Grandfathers) playing for the team but they run, kick, and tackle like they’re in their 20′s! i’m just in awe really and i admire how fit they are that despite their age (oldest is 65 years old), they can still play rugby well.

this must have been what it’ll look like playing Rugby during Rizal’s time! and i can’t think of any other way to conclude this blog but with this photo. loving the old world vibe in there…

if there’s one thing i’d wish to see today is that Rugby getting as much attention and popularity as soccer. its a tough sport but there are a lot of values and discipline you’ll get from learning and playing the sport.  i hope one day Pinoys will love the sport as much as I am loving it today..

until the next Rugby adventure and keep on moving your feet! =)

*** Join us guys every Mondays & Wednesdays for FREE Rugby training sessions at Ultra, 6pm to 8pm! Be there!***

Rugby 101 with TEAM XENA! =)

I remember last year when I first set foot in Ultra to join Rugby 101. 1st sesh there, we’re just a total of 5 girls training on the pitch, usually merged with the boys so just to let us experience playing touch rugby.. and after almost a year, I now can see 12 or more girls training every session! what a change it has been! =)

Picking a name for the team also has gone through several evolutions.. starting with tagging us as “TEAM GL (GL for Good-looking)” given I think by Coach Matt, then there was “TEAM ATHENA” given by PHL Dev’t team & Volcanoe member, Arnold Aninion, who’s also one of our coaches. He said the name fits coz Athena is the Greek Goddess of war & wisdom. and finally “TEAM XENA” after Xena the warrior princess.. =)

so now, without further adieu, everyone meet TEAM XENA!

we’re the women’s team formed from Rugby 101. we’re a mix of Rugby newbies & players from the national women’s team for Rugby, Lady Volcanoes. Captained by Lady Volcanoe Cassie Umali. to be honest, its a constant challenge and one hell of a battle for women to be playing the men’s game. you constantly have to prove yourself to everybody and to really get out there and perform/play well so as to earn respect from people so I really am proud of this team! hopefully we can sustain it & be able to have enough players for us to compete in 7s, 10s, and 15s league. =)

Calling all ladies out there, we’re still trying to beef up the squad. Please do join us every mondays & wednesdays at Ultra, 6pm to 8pm for a fun and quality Rugby training! =)

So whoever said that Rugby is for men’s only?! We girls like to kick some ass on the pitch too!