Spotlight on Jamie: Bigg's Diner

Bicol Bloggers x #SSSstaycation

I've been living in Naga City since 2010, but I've got to say, I've never experienced Naga City like last week at the Bicol Bloggers' SSSstaycation! Last January 31 to February 1, www.bicolbloggers.com officially launched together with the celebration of SoleSearchingSoul.com's first blogversary.

I am really, really, truly happy that we have now a Bicol Bloggers community. A group of Bicolanos who uses their online presence and digital influence for the promotion of our region, homegrown brands, events and its people - be it bloggers or just online influencers. Bicol Bloggers amplify the voice of the region and bring the world closer to Bicol! We are really here to help our own region and the local businesses in the place we call home. It's just really nice that Bicol now has a venue to go to when they need a hand in their online presence. I really do believe that the start of this community of active online influencers will give a great impact on bringing Bicol closer to the world!

A lot of fun and indelible things had happened at our 2-day staycation in the heart of Bicol, Naga City! And I'm so excited to share them to you guys, but for the meantime, I'll keep you hanging and leave you with this sneak peak post!

Here's a preview of what we did on our bloggers' staycation. City life, adventures, relaxing at the city and a lot of food trips! Nom nom nom.

Of course, nothing of all these would happen if not for our very generous sponsors! Mama Eñga for our very Bicolano lunch, Cafe Frederico for our dinner, The Park for breakfast, MySpa and Bratanella Cupcake for our spa party, Taxicle community for our ride at our Naga City life tour, Bigg's Diner for our delish lunch and of course, the Crown Hotel for making our staycation extra comfy in our one night stay at their deluxe rooms!

I'd also like to thank the three very influencing bloggers of Bicol who pioneered Bicol Bloggers, Ms. Apple Allison of Soul Searching Soul, Nick Pahati of nickastig.com, and our view deck to the city of Naga, Naga City Deck. Kudos to them for making this big step to helping not just the region, but also the individual bloggers of Bicol, for giving us more opportunities in the blogging industry. I cannot wait for more events and activities with these guys!

To know more about Bicol Bloggers and details on how to join or be a partner of us, just visit our newly launched website, www.bicolbloggers.com! Stay tuned to Spotlight on Jamie for the detailed blog posts about each activity we did in our #SSSstaycation! More Naga City fun awaits! ^___^

1 comments

, by Jamie

Avenue Plaza Hotel

Color Splash Run @ Naga City!

~~***UPDATE: Due to the threat of Typhoon Ruby, the Color Splash Run is moved to December 13, 2014. Same time, same place.***~~

***UPDATE: From the organizers of the Color Splash Run. Due to the threat of Typhoon Ruby, the Color Splash Run is postponed until further notice. With the super typhoon Ruby, and considering the affected families, it's not so relevant to hold a fun event on Dec 13. With this, please be informed that we will keep everyone posted on the final date, possibly, we'll have it in January. Apologies for the changes. Let's prioritize the safety of everyone first.***

***UPDATE: THE COLOR SPLASH RUN IS MOVED ON JANUARY 17, 2014 DUE TO THE THREAT OF TYPHOON RUBY ON THE FORMER SCHEDULED DATE OF THE EVENT.***

Havaianas shares its positive energy, fun, and colors to 6 charitable organizations in Naga City through the Color Splash Run on ~~December 6~~ *UPDATE: January 17*, 3pm at the Avenue Plaza Hotel (starting point) and SM City Naga (finish line)!

It's an event that will let us experience the most colorful way of giving back! Participants will go through six “color-dousing stations” representing six charities as the beneficiaries of this event. A mini concert featuring local DJs and Zumba party will await participants at the finish line, where there will also be “color splash” in celebration of the solidarity of community, support to charities, and vibrant & festive Havaianas spirit!

TOP 3 Runners (Men and Women) will win awesome prizes from Havaianas! The runners are encouraged to sport their most colorful get-up for a chance to win a special prize courtesy of The Avenue Plaza Hotel (overnight stay for 2) and Olympia Gym (one month membership).

*Tip: The jersey shirt on the event will be white, so it'll be easier for you to style that right? Be sure that your outfit's still comfy for you to move and run! Function first before fashion!* I'd also suggest wearing eye-protective glasses! We don't want color powders in our eyes, do we? ;)

The colorful fun run will benefit the following organizations:

The most amazing feeling in the world is having fun and being able to help others. That's why I'm sure this will be an amazing and fun event! The most colorful way to give back, indeed!

Registration is only Php350, inclusive of jerseys shirt. You can register at All Flip Flops, SM City Naga or call 472-1218 / 472-0384 / (+63)998-982-8274.

See you on ~~December 6th~~ *UPDATE: January 17*, 3pm and together we'll splash colors to others' lives! *metaphorically and literally, hihi*

***UPDATE: THE COLOR SPLASH RUN IS MOVED ON JANUARY 17, 2014 DUE TO THE THREAT OF TYPHOON RUBY ON THE FORMER SCHEDULED DATE OF THE EVENT.***

2 comments

, by Jamie

Avenue Plaza Hotel

Experience CamSur with Havaianas (Part 3)

Sorry for the backlogs! I almost forgot that I still haven't finished this Dream Weekend with Havaianas blog series. :( But yea, since Naga's celebrating the Peñafrancia Festival. I thought it would be great if I post this today! Hihi. If you still haven't read about the first 2 parts, read here. Let's start this Day 2!

*photo explanation: I don't smoke guys, it's just a nice background for a photo. lol*

Nothing's better than starting your day with a good, yummy, and unlimited breakfast at the Avenue Plaza Hotel! Swear I ate a lot more than what you can see in this photo. Haha! Breakfast is my most favorite meal of the day, so yeah. And I cannot say anything with the food that they serve in the Avenue Plaza Hotel. Everything tastes good and expensive!

The bloggers started the day by witnessing everything that happens before the shoot. The BTS. Make-up, styling, and setting up!

Here's Ms. Theresa Carbonel of Ellana Mineral Cosmetics working with her magical hands on one of the Havaianas MangoRED shoot winners!

The styling room was full of Havaianas pairs! Swear, we all drooled off and checked if a pair would fit us! Unlimited choices of Havaianas flipflops! HUHU

After the preparations, we headed to the shoot location. It's my favorite couple's turn for the photo shoot! Mr. and Mrs. Luzada, the eldest couple cuties! Their theme, vintage, added to their cuteness. And where else would be the perfect location for a vintage theme? Bigg's Diner, of course!

Bigg's Diner is famous for their retro-vintage vibe in their restaurants with. I've blogged about the Bigg's Diner in Daet here, which has a retro beach/surfing vibe. In the branch that we went to for the shoot, the restaurant theme is vintage music! The whole restaurant actually looks like a radio-transistor, which is really cool! This branch that I'm talking about is the one in the Magsaysay Avenue.

We couldn't help but to goof around with the all the vintage stuff in the resto (which was used as props in the shoot)! I've been wanting to pick-up and experience these vintage cameras whenever I see it displayed in the Bigg's Diner for so long! Here's my co-blogger, Gera, and the photobomber, Paul, and the back! lol

And we also used their sets... Forgive us MangoRED! Hihi :3

Don't they look so natural with their photo shoot acts? They look like they're just reminiscing their good 'ol days when they we're just in the ligaw stage! LOL We really got all kilig while they were shooting!! Turn this to black and white and insert indie upbeat love song in the background please HUHU

Shoot break! I'm really happy to be part of this Havaianas event because I was able to meet a lot of great and talented people, like Ms. Theresa! One of my favorite part was when I got the chance to experience Ms. Theresa's magic in make-up!

And I got #GGSS (Gandang-Ganda Sa Sarili) afterwards! Shot by myself at out hotel room mirror! HAHA. Thank you so much for letting me experience your wonderful talent in beautifying people, Ms. Theresa! ^_^ I swear, she's really great in what she does. She's really friendly too and explains what she's doing in your face while she's doing it. You'll really feel comfortable and confident that you'll be pretty afterwards. She's not selfish with her knowledge too and gives us free make-up tutorials!

Next stop: Meeting this very good-looking Chef Doy and eating at his restaurant, Chef Doy's Gourmet Restaurant! My most favorite part of the Day 2! Haha. Chef Doy's is famous for their Bicolano dishes, and I'm such a fan of Bicol foods, especially the ones with gata. I totally enjoyed their food and by just looking at the photos of their dishes again, it's making me drool!

Hungry bloggers waiting for some delish foods! We're also privileged to taste their new recipes which will just be coming out this October! I'm so excited for the new recipe to come out! I've been very persistent in asking their waiters if it had already came out every single time I visit their resto to pig out. Heh~ Here are the dishes that Chef Doy prepared for us! *Warning: Stomach grumbling might occur

(L-R, T-B) Batang-Batang Pusit, Kare-Kareng Litson Kawali, Tinutong Na Hita ng Manok, and the so Pinoy, Sago't Gulaman!

Kare-kareng Litson Kawali is one of my favorites! I'm not actually a fan of kare-kare, but this one's an exception! The Lumpiang Natong is remarkable too. My favorite Bicol gulay dish is natong and making it a lumpia had revamped it to the next level! Dipping it to its gata sauce is such a delight too! *excuse me while a drool*

(L-R, T-B) Lumpiang Natong, Paella Bicolana, Pancit Halo, and Tortang Sili

Paella Bicolana must not be absent on your table whenever you visit Chef Doy's too! I think it's their most known recipe there. Rice with natong, seafoods and lechon kawali on top! "Kanin pa lang, ulam na!" And last but not the least, my most favorite of all, the Tortang Sili! It's my first time to see and taste one! You know tortang talong, right? The same concept, but it's sili inside! Don't underestimate this because it's as hot as Bicolanas! LOL, but true. :p

After pigging out.. it's time to relax! Because yea, that's what you do after your eating work out. HAHA hashtag life! We really felt pampered by the Havaianas crew. A CamSur's bests experience indeed! They treated us with a free foot reflexology in the very cozy Blue Water Day Spa to make our feet even more happy while wearing Havaianas flipflops!

Blue Water Day Spa really made us feel like we're rich kids! Having a foot spa, foot reflexology and back massage, being served by whatever refreshment you want, while watching a movie in their Spa Theater? You literally couldn't ask for more! This can also be a great gift for your parents or a date with your lovey too!

The foot spa, reflexology and back massage was superb! Perfect for my body ache from Wakeboarding at CWC the day before. You can also personally choose the movie you like! We chose the movie Warm Bodies because most of us loves the OST of this movie. ^_^

The interior of Blue Water Day Spa is so cozy too, and the people are so warm. I wasn't able to take much photos because I'm using 50mm! Plus, it was all dark at the Spa Theater. LOL Here's a photo with the Marketing Associate of Havaianas, Ms. Rose. :)

And back to the MangoRED shoot! This time, the shoot location is at the Maison Sangreal, an office concept store and design showroom rolled into one!

Meanwhile, we're having our own photo shoot too! Hihi~ Gera here, being my model!

The cute kids of the Havaianas Managing Director had their moment captured by MangoRED too! Lucky kids!

Cutie Theo having a chat to MangoRED while they're shooting! *adorbs*

And this is how I fell in love with my co-bloggers! The day's about to end, we're just waiting for the closing program to start, and this happened in our hotel room. Photo Booth madness! lol One of the best things in this experience is meeting these wonderful people! I've been with them for just 2 days but idk, we just clicked! Prolly because we all have the same passion for blogging ..and taking crazy photos! Until now, we still get in touch with each other. And our group's official hashtag is #clingy! Gosh, I miss them! ;n;

The day was exhausting and refreshing at the same time! Full of good memories. There was really not much time for a proper closing program anymore because the other bloggers, photographers and make-up artists have their flights to catch. We just pigged out, courtesy of Avenue Plaza Hotel again!

A photo opp with Mr. Ben Nasayao of Muy Bien, the production designer and stylist!

With the beautiful Managing Director of Havaianas South Luzon, Ms. Rica Buenaflor, with her cutie son. Thank you so much Ms. Rica for making this Experience CamSur with Havaianas happen! Thank you for the whole Havaianas team for pampering us for the whole 2 days. It was indeed a fun, cozy and classy experience, just like Havaianas flipfops!

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Thanks to HAVAIANAS for making this event happen!

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSORS:

Avenue Plaza Hotel | Bigg's Diner | Blue Water Day Spa | Camsur Watersports Complex

Chef Doy's Gourmet Restaurant | Maison Sangreal | MangoRED

Muy Bien Creatives: Home and Beyond | Ben Nasayao (production design and stylist)

Ellana Mineral Cosmetics | Theresa Carbonel (make-up artist) | Regine Matias (hair stylist)

Credits to Paul Echano on some of the photos.