My Best City Escape goes to Kandaya Resort!

Early this year was our quick weekend getaway to Cebu, Philippines. We booked in a resort in Daanbantayan, Cebu which we have never known until Gavas Family, our family friend, introduced it to us. By the time we made the booking, the resort’s website was down so we had to do Google searches of the photos, resort info, etc. It was well-recommended to us by our family friend so we trusted them, more than the pictures we saw on the internet.

One Saturday, we took a 3-hour drive from Mandaue City to Daanbantayan, Cebu. Road was concrete all the way so it was hassle-free and very much convenient. The road trip was relaxing in itself as we passed by uncrowded municipalities and saw most of the blue skies and green plantations.

After the 3-hour drive, we finally reached our destination: Kandaya Resort! Weeee! It was no longer something we just saw in social media nor was it just a story relayed to us. We’re finally in the resort, face to face! So imagine our excitement upon arriving and seeing the resort’s signage. We hurriedly captured the moment to document our soon-to-be astounding experience.

Before entering, the guard-on-duty checked first his list of guests to confirm our reservation. After doing so, he allowed us access to the resort. The resort’s entry area were well-planted with coconut trees. Upon arrival at the parking area, we were immediately assisted by Kandaya Resort’s staff and helped us with our luggage to be placed in the golf cart.

So our energies were even pumped up as we reached the lobby, which was actually just approximately 100m from the parking area. We were greeted by the receptionist and offered welcome drinks and cold towels soaked in their Kandaya Signature Scent, which smelled pleasantly citrusy and organic and very fit for that moment as it was hot outside. So thumbs up to Kandaya for that!

Lobby towards the infinity pool and beachfront

After the check-in, we were taken to the main building where our room was located. And upon entering the building, we were blown away – well, also literally. The breeze was blowing through the huge building doors as both access doors were open. We were also mind blown with how scenic and beautiful the main lobby was – the interiors were superb and the instantaneous view of the infinity pool and ocean skies were beyond astonishing. We can just stand in awe while entering the main lobby.

So our journey continued as we were led to our room, which has a veranda plus a Koi pond outside. The room was big and more than cozy. Anyone can just stay in the room the whole day.

Nestled in the coastal heart of Daanbantayan, Cebu is this explicitly magnificent and captivating view of Kandaya Resort. Not to exaggerate but really the resort was breathtaking and more so, exquisite.

The resort opened in 2014 and houses 40 plus accommodations: Deluxe Room, Premier Room, Ocean View Suite, Garden Villa, Garden Pool Villa, Beach Pool Villa and Ocean Pool Villa. Owned by Salimbangon-Yeung Family, the resort used to be the family's beach house and was later developed into a resort named in homage to Datu Daya, a tribal chieftain in Daanbantayan during the prehistoric times.

Koi Pond at verandas of rooms at the Main Building

Bar at Kusina Restaurant

Kandaya Resort’s free amenities include an open gym with boxing ring (Kombate or MMA area), lawn tennis court, basketball court, beach volleyball court, air-conditioned gym, game room, recreational bicycles and 30 minute-use of kayak and paddle board, among others. Other services and facilities requiring additional charges include extended use of kayak, snorkeling in Malapascua Island, motorized water sports and a visit to the Daya Spa and Kuwadra Horse stable. For the resort’s dining experience, it’s an exclusive service by Kusina Restaurant, which has Dedon outdoor furniture collection all over the place – same with the villas. Resort’s main lobby and rooms have mix furniture from Murillo and Coast Pacific.

Buffet Breakfast at Kusina Restaurant

It’s truly exhilarating and calming just walking around Kandaya Resort – very private and serene, like you could hear the flowing water inside the main building. Night breeze was all the more tranquil and the dining experience at Kusina Restaurant was likewise relishing.

Truly, with Kandaya Resort, it’s more fun in the Philippines! It’s the best city escape to just lose yourself in the most relaxing and rejuvenating way. One doesn’t even have to go far, not even abroad with nearby countries. You just have to go to Daanbantayan, Cebu to discover this amazing gem in the Philippines.

Indeed, our weekend getaway was an experience to remember. And if there’s one word to describe our overall Kandaya Resort experience – it would simply be, ecstatic!

Visit their website at www.kandayaresort.com. For Mactan International airport transfers, resort van fee costs Php 4,000.00 (one-way) and Php 7,000.00 (roundtrip) for maximum of 6 persons. If you want to perfectly seal your lavish paradise getaway, Kandaya Resort also offers helicopter ride for maximum of 4 persons at Php 180,000 (one-way). Enjoy your stay!

This photo only by Shin Singson

Be someone else's superhero

I’m currently caught up with all the deadlines at work and decided to find an alternative outlet to relieve all the stress coming in. So I tried to connect with good vibed-people online, then a fellow writer at The Feast Makati & Taguig messaged in our group chat about random acts of kindness and how that kind person became someone else’s superhero.

Then it dawned on me, have I ever become someone else’s superhero?

With all the hustle and bustle in our everyday lives, we tend to forego simple acts of kindness. We get glued to work deadlines, reports and basically everything in life that is really non-essential. While others are quite in a dilemma on what to do with their lives, on what they want to be, or where they want to go. Why not be someone else’s superhero?

#randomshortthoughts

There is such thing as Anxiety and Depression

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Why is there Anxiety and Depression? Basically, I’m not really writing to answer that question because believe it or not, I’ve got no clue. I am writing to raise awareness, that indeed Anxiety and Depression really do exist in some people and at a highly different level with some people who just feels simply sad.

I’ve come across people who were utterly depressed. Some, I don’t even know until it’s over. Nowadays, people say they’re depressed out of the blue but we think it’s just over-reacting of some sort but who are we to really judge if we haven’t experienced it in the same way they did? Point being, anxiety and depression do exist.

Depression becomes that feeling that seems too uncontrollable, more like invincible – to the point when you don’t even know how it started. You just know that you’re in this deep black hole all of a sudden. So when we ask people who are truly depressed, they can’t quite give us a direct answer and at the back of their heads, they totally hate us for asking something they don’t even know what the answer is. And sometimes, they just start crying and feel miserable even more.

Well, there’s no really guaranteed right steps of helping people who are feeling depressed because really some feel they don’t want to be helped and some who do, don’t know how to start talking things out. But there are some important points that I’d like to share in case you’d really like to talk to people who are depressed:

1.  Don’t mention these lines – “It’s all in the head. Pull yourself together. Why are you feeling that? You’re so blessed. I don’t see anything wrong with you.” – While these lines are definitely true, those depressed don’t wanna hear those lines apart from the fact that a million people already told them that. Like seriously, pull yourself together? Do you think the person hadn’t tried that out? Like he/she simply succumbed to the feeling and didn’t do anything about it? Well, for some, maybe yes, but for others, I doubt it. It’s all in the head. It’s all in the heaaaad?? Then the person must really be crazy creating stupid things in his/her head. Don’t make the person feel miserable even more. A depressed person can’t really fathom things at the moment but telling the person it’s all in the head, wouldn’t really help. I don’t see anything wrong with you. Precisely! One of the reasons the person is depressed is people don’t effin’ notice it. Like how come the people they spend with everyday feels like they’re just fine but truly they are not. That’s when people depressed ask themselves, are there really people who truly know them?  
2. Just be with them – By being with them, I don’t mean you judge them and nag them on the littlest of things. Surely, you have your own shit going but I bet it’s nothing to people who thinks they are nearing crazy. If you think you still have full sanity despite all your troubles then be generous enough to spend some more time understanding or just empathizing with people you think are depressed. There is no better feeling than having people around to just be there and not put too much pressure in resolving depression. Because truly, it ain’t an easy task.
3. Show how much you love them more than ever – People depressed tend to be suicidal so it’s truly sweet and thoughtful for people to show them that they love them more than usual, that they love them before but they aren’t just that expressive but they’re expressing it now as a gesture of saying, Hang On. It helps a lot knowing there are other people who won't give up on you in a time when giving up is the only thing you'd ever think about.

I got depressed twice and the first time was a 9-month stretch. After that, I felt like I was reborn and boy was I so energetic. Until I hit rock bottom the second time, Gehd, I just wanna end it. So really, depression isn't some kind of joke. There is such thing as Anxiety and Depression. Know it. Learn in. Help others overcome it.

See also: Supporting Your Partner Through Depression