On this blog post, I will be sharing with you an itinerary on how you can maximize your 24 hours of stay in Shanghai. This is perfect for those who are transiting through the city or for those who just want to explore another city from another country for 24 hours.

Last April 15, 2019, I was invited to join Cebu Pacific Air inaugural flight from Cebu to Shanghai. With my work schedule and upcoming trips, I can’t really afford to file another long vacation that’s why I decided to spend only 24 hours in Shanghai. Good thing, 2 of my blogger friends decided to join along my itinerary. The flight schedule of Cebu Pacific Air from Cebu to Shanghai is perfect to achieve this 24 hour itinerary.

Cebu Pacific 5J 58 left Cebu at 6:50pm and we arrived in Shanghai around 11pm. Our flight back to Cebu the following day was scheduled at 11:55pm, so it’s a little over 24 hours stay technically.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport to/from Shanghai City Center

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is located about 30 kilometers away from the city center. You have an option to ride a bus, taxi or train going to the city. Train services from/to the airport and the city halts at around 11pm though. We decided to take the bus because we arrived late and to save some money.

Before we heading to the bus stop, we picked up our Maglev & Metro Pass that we purchased on Klook. We will be using this pass on Shanghai Metro and Maglev train on our way back to the airport.

The bus fare from the airport to our bus stop near The Bund is RMB22. It is important that you have your hotel and bus stop name written in Chinese characters because people who speak and read English in Shanghai are limited. The travel time from Shanghai Pudong International Airport to our bus stop (East Yan’an Road Middle Zhejiang Road) took about an hour.

Where to Stay in Shanghai

If you want to maximize your 24 hours in Shanghai, I suggest you stay in The Bund area. This location is perfect because it’s very near to most of the must visit places in Shanghai. We stayed at Captain’s Hostel and it is literally a few steps away from The Bund Promenade.

Sample 24 Hour Itinerary in Shanghai

11:00pm – arrival in Shanghai
1:00am – arrived at the hotel and rest

5:00am – Sunrise at The Bund

The Bund or also known as Waitan is a waterfront area in Shanghai located along the west bank of Huangpu River. It is famous for western-style architectures featuring Gothic, baroque and neoclassical designs.

The Bund waterfront promenade is a popular spot to see the futuristic skyscrapers of Luziajui. I suggest going early in the morning if you want to avoid the crowd. Waking up early was so worth it because it was almost empty except for the locals who do their morning exercises.

One of the notable statues located at The Bund is the Shanghai Bull. It was designed by the world-famous sculptor Arturo Ugo Di Modica who also designed Wall Street’s Charging Bull sculpture in New York. Shanghai Bull is a symbol of Shanghai’s effort to build a financial center that serve China’s economy.

After taking lots of photos, it’s time to head back to the hostel to prepare and eat breakfast.

Getting There
Access by Train: East Nanjing Rd Station, Line 2 and Line 10

6:00am – prepare for check out and eat breakfast

8:00am – Gucun Park

One of our travel goals in visiting Shanghai is to see cherry blossoms, and this lead us to Gucun Park. We visited Shanghai mid-April and according to our research, the cherry blossoms around the park bloom as late as early may.

Gucun Park is a large park located in Baoshan District north of the city center. The park is popular to locals on regular days because of its picnic areas, green spaces, lakes and running/biking paths.

As soon as we arrived outside Gucun Park, we were welcomed by a line of cherry blossom trees and most of them were still in bloom! It was so surreal to see thousands of pink petals being blown by wind and creating a carpet of petals on the ground. Inside there were only a few trees that were in bloom but it still looks amazing.

The park features variety of flowers that blooms in different seasons just in case you visit outside spring.

Getting There
Access by Train: From East Nanjing Rd Station take Line 2 to Jing’an Temple Station then transfer to Line 7 and get off at Gucun Park Station. Take Exit 3. Travel time is about 30 minutes.

12:00pm – Yang’s Fried Dumpling in Huanghe Road

We went to Huanghe Road primarily because of xiaolongbao or soup dumplings. We were supposed to go to the famous Jia Jia Tang Bao but the line was so long. We spotted Yang’s Fried Dumpling across the street with a lesser crowd and it did not disappoint.

Xiaolongbao is a type of Chinese dumpling that is filled with soup inside. It is usually prepared in Xiaolong, which is a small bamboo steaming basket. What makes Yang’s Fried Dumpling unique is they fry them after steaming. I like how it gives the dumpling a crunchy and fried taste. It is also amazing how they retain the soup inside.

Getting There
Access by Train: From Gucun Park Station take Line 7 then transfer to Line 2 and get off at People’s Square Station. Take Exit 9 or 10.

1:00pm – People’s Square

Located at the south-end of Huanghe Road is the People’s Square, a large public square home to a vast greenery where the locals love to gather for family bonding, relaxing or exercising.

People’s Square is also home to Shanghai’s largest and busiest metro station where 3 major subway lines passes through.

Some of the major sights in People’s Square are the Shanghai Museum and the Shanghai Municipal Government Building.

Getting There
Short walk from south-end of Huanghe Road.
Access by train: Shanghai Metro Lines 1, 2 and 8 passes through People’s Square Station.

2:00pm – Starbucks Reserve Roastery

For Starbucks fanatics, Starbucks Reserve Roastery located in West Nanjing Road is a must visit. This multi-story store opened in December 6, 2017 and considered as the second largest Starbucks in the world. Starbucks Reserve Roastery in Shanghai features its own roasting facility, and unique coffee and tea based drinks that are not available in a normal Starbucks store. The food available here is also prepared by Princi Cafe, a Milan-based cafe that offers pastries, pizza and alcoholic beverages.

Getting There
Access by Train: From People’s Square Station take Line 2 to West Nanjing Rd Station. Take Exit 11.

3:00pm – Shanghai Old City and Yuyuan Garden

Shanghai Old City is a picturesque and touristy area in Shanghai that features old style buildings. This place is also popular for shopping for local snacks and food, and souvenirs.

Yuyuan Garden is located within Shanghai Old City. It is a classical Chinese garden that dates back to the Ming Dynasty. It features pavilions, halls, rockeries and ponds. Some of the notable features of the garden are the Nine-turn bridge, Cuixui Hall, Sansui Hall, Wanhua Chamber and the Exquisite Jade Rock.

Getting There
Access by Train: From West Nanjing Rd Station take Line 2 to East Nanjing Rd Station then transfer to Line 10 and get off at Yuyuan Garden Station. Take Exit 1.

4:30pm – Lujiazui

Just across the Huangpu River from The Bund is Lujiazui, an area in the Pudong New District that was developed to be Shanghai’s new financial district. In 1992 , Lujiazui was allocated as a special investment zone. This was also the time when the development of Lujiazui’s skyline started.

Some of the modern and tallest skyscrapers in the world are located in Lujiazui. Some of the notable and popular ones are the Shanghai World Financial Center, Oriental Pearl Tower, Jin Mao Tower, and the second tallest building in the world, the Shanghai Tower.

Getting There
Access by Train: From Yuyuan Garden Station ride the train to East Nanjing Rd Station then transfer to Line 2 and get off at Lujiazui Station. Take Exit 3.

5:30pm – The Bund

It’s almost sunset and it’s time to marvel on Lujiazui’s skyline at night. If you think Luijiazui’s skyline looks futuristic already during day time, wait until the skyscrapers light up at night. The playful and colorful lights will make you feel like you were teleported to another dimension.

Getting There
Access by Train: From Lujiazui Station ride a train to East Nanjing Rd Station.

7:30pm – leave Shanghai Pudong International Airport

It’s time to head to the airport and one of the best ways to get there is by riding the Shanghai Maglev Train. This is the fastest commercial train in the world with the highest speed of 430 km/hr. It runs between Longyang Rd Station and Shanghai-Pudong International Airport. It’s a 30 km journey but only takes 8 minutes.

Getting There
Access by Train: From East Nanjing Rd Station take Line 2 to Longyang Rd Station.

That’s it for a whole day of touring around Shanghai. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as this involves lots of walking too.

24 Hour Shanghai Budget

RMB22 – Bus fare from Shanghai-Pudong International Airport to city center
RMB60 – One night stay at Captain’s Hostel
RMB20 – Dinner
RMB20 – Breakfast
RMB20 – Gucun Park entrance
RMB20 – Lunch at Yang’s Fried Dumplings
RMB40 – Snacks and other essentials
RMB20 – Dinner at Airport
RMB212 – Php1580* TOTAL

*RMB1 = Php7.50

One of the reasons why I love Cebu is, I could be working in the office in the morning, and then relaxing by the beach in the afternoon. This is exactly what I just did few days ago. I went straight from work to Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu for a quick beach escapade.

This summer, Mövenpick Cebu has prepared exciting packages and new offers to make summer even more fun and enjoyable. You can choose from the Day Tour or Cabana Rental packages.

Day Tour Package

• Access to white sand beach and swimming pool from 8am to 8pm
• Use of gym, Little Birds Club and Game Room
• Complimentary breakfast or lunch buffet at The Sails Restaurant or 15-course Balearic dinner at Ibiza Beach Club

Cabana Rental Package

• 4 hours of exclusive rental of one Cabana for 2 guests
• Access to white sand beach and swimming pool
• Includes a beach kit with cold towel, beach towel, toilet and bath amenities and a pack of sweet treats

All guests who availed these packages will also get access to the fun group activities scheduled at various times at the Beach Garden. These packages will surely make your beach escapade at Mövenpick Cebu more relaxing, hassle-free and enjoyable.

After a long day of swimming, head out to Ibiza Beach Club for some Happy Hour cocktails while enjoying the golden sunset in the Jacuzzi or on the net pods. From 4pm to 6pm, enjoy Buy-One-Get-One-Free on a glass of beer, juice or cocktail.

Ibiza Beach Club also recently introduced their Premium Gin and Tonic Collection featuring 6 drinks. All these are at Buy-One-Get-One-Free exclusively on Sundays during Happy Hour.

Come dinner time, don’t miss Ibiza Beach Club’s nightly themed shows featuring Cebu’s local talents. Enjoy the one-of-a-kind theatrical experience while savoring Ibiza’s Balearic-inspired signature 15-course dinner. Indulge with generous serving of meat and seafood – Filet Mignon, Angus Rib-Eye Steak, Ostrich Meat, Lamb Chops and Tiger Prawns, to name a few.

Don’t forget to pair your meal with Manny O. Wines, or if you want to be creative, order Ibiza’s “Cocktail in the Box” where you can craft your own drink. Each box comes with cocktail ingredients, a full bottle of spirits, and mixers.

If you’re are looking for a quick beach escapade near the city, Mövenpick Hotel Mactan Island Cebu is waiting to welcome you.

For reservations and inquiries, contact +63 32 492 7777 or email hotel.cebu@movenpick.com. For updates events and promotions, visit www.movenpick.com/cebu or follow @movenpickcebu and @ibizacebu on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

At 44, Elizabeth Lopez Unlay, Abeth as she is fondly called by her friends, is a wife to Dave, mother to four kids and a businesswoman. Being all that, she says it’s a blessing and an everyday challenge, and in all the roles she scores high. Though her days are centered around the family, she manages to find herself me time, which is good.

My name is Francine Cassandra Unlay. I’m 15, the second child and the eldest daughter. Let me tell you why I have the best mom in the world.

Here’s the big picture. We are four siblings, two boys and two girls, aged six to 18. Imagine what my mom is faced with? School work, teenage dilemmas, varying hobbies, age gap management, varied food preferences and mom manages them all quite well.

She takes care of dad, too. When he’s away, mom plays dad and looks after the business in however way she can.

On weekdays, a day starts by seeing us four kids to school. In between, mom does her paperwork and errands. She picks us up for lunch and asks how our day was, sees three kids off to school again and looks after Daphne, the youngest. It’s during Daph’s nap time that mom gets to go to the gym. She gathers us again at the end of the day to bond while waiting for dad for dinner.

The weekend is a different story. With everyone having their own itinerary, mom turns into a driver, cook and the “palengke queen”. She insists going to the wet market herself to choose the items for her menu.

Stingy? No, thrifty and wise. She said she only purchases what benefits our health. Quality will always be her priority. The palengke is where she finds the freshest of ingredients at the best price. Imagine how good and balanced her home-cooked meals are. But we do eat out on Sundays after Mass. Though she says it’s family time, I see it as her official day-off from the household chores.

After all the hard work she rewards herself by shopping. It’s her way to relax.

I adore my mom’s sense of fashion. Like her palengke stints, she is as wise in shopping for great deals on clothes. She hunts for the best looks with value for money. This is why she sticks to the classics—elegant and simple yet powerful, and always stylish. She’s a jeans-and-linen-top kind of girl, goes for the safe tones of black and white, and pastels, which makes her feel young and vibrant.

Let me share a secret. She loves to hoard on the linen tops and bottoms of Marks & Spencer. She said she gets a good deal on the store’s new, lowered price lines. For the same budget, she gets a couple more pieces in the basket than the usual. Her picks in classic styles and good quality can last a long, long time, she says.

Here’s another secret. Why I love her fashion sense so much? We’re pretty much on the same wavelength—and size. I can ransack her closet anytime. She doesn’t mind sharing. Like I said, she’s one wise mama. Letting me borrow her clothes saves us both on shopping money. Like mother, like daughter.

That’s my mom, Elizabeth. There may be a million adjectives to describe her but I’ll write one—her love is unconditional. That’s what matters most to me, to the family.

Happy Mother’s Day, mom!

Fashion: M&S Collection Spring/Summer 2019 available at the Marks & Spencer stores in Ayala Center
Photography: Wizbren Ang
Make-up & Styling: Otoy Mercado

The Lubao IBMF 2019 was a three day event featuring ground and aerial activities that were enjoyed by the whole family. Some of the activities include aerial shows, car shows, off road and rally cross racing, and ultralight flying. A food festival and a bazaar were also present at the venue to cater to hungry visitors and shoppers. The highlights of the event were the early morning balloon flight, night glow, fireworks display and music festival.

I am originally from Pampanga but it was my first time to attend the Lubao IBMF, and actually setting foot in Lubao. Thanks to Cebu Pacific Air, this first moment finally happened.

We are able to watch the music festival on the first day with JK Labajo, Ben & Ben and December Avenue on the lineup. I was really amazed by the huge turnout. Thousands of Cabalens and visitors from neighboring towns flocked at the event venue to enjoy the concerts and ongoing festivities.

On the second day of Lubao IBMF, we woke up early to see the hot air balloons fly. Early morning is the best time for hot air balloon flights because the wind condition and temperature are more stable. 31 hot air balloons painted the sky of Lubao with colorful and beautiful designs. My favorites are the Elvis and White Bear balloons.

I was able to make another first moment happen during this trip and that is riding a hot air balloon! It was a short but memorable ride. Bucket list checked!

Going to the venue was very convenient thanks to the direct flights of Cebu Pacific Air from Cebu to Clark which takes about 1.5 hours. The airline flies from/to Cebu-Clark route twice daily. The Lubao IBMF was held at Pradera Verde in Lubao, Pampanga, from Clark, it takes about an hour drive by car via SCTEx by taking the Dinalupihan exit.

Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone (CFSEZ) is slowly becoming a center for economic development in Central Luzon. The former US airbase was converted into a special economic zone in 1992 and since then attracted global investors from various markets.

With the development and upgrades of Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark, more and more flights are being routed to the airport. Cebu Pacific Air recently announced that they will be flying direct between Clark and Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Iloilo and Bacolod in August, and Puerto Princesa in October. From Clark, Cebu Pacific Air currently flies direct to Cebu, Bohol, Boracay (Caticlan), and Davao for domestic flights. For international flights, they fly direct to Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore.

Flying to Clark is the best option if you want to explore the Central and Northern Philippines because it can cut your travel time for two to three hours compared to flying to Manila. This summer, if you’re planning an island hopping adventure at the Hundred Islands in Pangasinan, a surfing trip in La Union, a heritage tour in Vigan or a food trip in Pampanga, make sure you book a flight through Clark via Cebu Pacific Air.

I’ve been to Radisson Blu Cebu a couple of times to cover some events but it was my first time staying in their property and seeing their rooms in person.

Radisson Blu Cebu is a 400 room property located in one of the busiest areas in Cebu City. The hotel is strategically located near the city’s tourist spots, business hubs and port area. It is also connected to one of the biggest malls in the country, SM City Cebu.

Getting hungry is also not a problem at Radisson Blu Cebu. They have five dining outlets that will surely satisfy your cravings- Feria, Sushisake, Urban Table, The Lobby Lounge and Dilmah T-bar.

Part of our staycation at Radisson Blu Cebu is for them to reintroduce their newly renovated and refreshed 55 Business Class guestrooms. Their refurbishment program started last year on the Business Class floors 19 through 21 of the 21-storey property. They are currently working on the rest of the guestrooms.

I stayed in a corner Business Class room on the 21st floor. The first thing I’ve noticed is how spacious and bright the room was. I love the pop of cool blue color on grays mixed with the warm and inviting shades of woody tones. The room comes with a queen-size bed, modern room amenities, and a fully equipped spacious bathroom. I really love the views from high rise buildings. The panoramic windows of my room provides ambient lighting and amazing views of Mactan Channel and Cebu City skyline.

During our staycation, they also showed us how the old guestrooms look like so that we can compare it to the newly renovated rooms. The old rooms were okay but I really love the renovated rooms because they look fresh, bright and more relaxing to stay in.

The next morning, we were too lazy to go down to Feria for our breakfast and decided to order in-room breakfast. The spread includes complimentary coffee and freshly baked breads.

Since we stayed on the Business Class floors of the hotel, we were able to access the Business Class Lounge on the 20th floor. Here, guests can enjoy daily breakfast, afternoon snacks and early evening cocktails for free. Guests can also check-out here instead of going to the lobby.

I had a short but a very relaxing stay at Radisson Blu Cebu. Now it’s your time for a staycation! Stay overnight in a Superior Room with breakfast for two persons at Feria for only Php5,555 net per night. Promo is valid until June 30, 2019. Terms and conditions apply. For inquiries and reservations, please call (032) 402 9900 or email reservations.cebu@radisson.com.

RedDoorz is an online budget accommodations platform based in Singapore. They currently have operations in Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and here in the Philippines. In the country, they are already visible in Manila, Pampanga, Davao, Tagaytay, and their most recent expansion, Cebu.

How RedDoorz works is they partner with local hotel owners and help them transform their property to become more competitive by upgrading its amenities. Each room is guaranteed to have WiFi, drinking water, television, clean bathroom, clean linen, basic toiletry kit, and 24/7 front desk. Customer service and English courses are also part of the program to upgrade the quality of service the staff provides.

In the Philippines, RedDoorz currently has more than 100 property partners in Cebu, Manila, Davao, Pampanga, and Tagaytay. In Cebu, they now have 15 property partners located near the key destinations around the metro like Cebu IT Park, AS Fortuna, Cebu Capitol Area, Mango Avenue and downtown area.

Traveling soon? Visit RedDoorz.com to check if there’s a RedDoorz property partner in your destination.

Coinciding this year with the highly anticipated Sinulog Festival week, Plus63 Music & Arts Festival is an annual event that aims to support local talents and musicians by giving them the opportunity to perform alongside the world’s top performers. Plus63 refers to the Philippines’ country code and numerical global identifier.

Previous headliners include Swedish House Mafia’s Steve Angello in 2016, Steve Aoki in 2017 and last year, Showtek, who performed before over 10,000 fans.

House meets hip hop

This year, hip hop meets house as hit American rapper and producer Kid Ink and show-stealing Swedish act Dada Life is sharing the stage with the country’s top beatmakers Ace Ramos, MC Pao, DJ Short, Victor Jao, MC Benson, DJ Rich Rubillar, and MC Mak G.

Kid Ink is known for his chart-topping singles, multi-platinum albums, and collaborations with artists like Chris Brown, Steve Aoki, Little Mix and Fifth Harmony. His first studio album Up & Away landed on the US Billboard 200, while his second album debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200 with hits like Show Me featuring Brown and Iz U Down featuring Tyga. Kid Ink dropped his last studio album in 2015, and has since released a mixtape and an extended play record.

On the other hand, Olle Cornéer and Stefan Engblom formed Dada Life in 2006, and rose to popularity with their humorous stage antics and happy-go-lucky approach to music. Dada Life has released three studio albums with their second Gold-sellingalbum, The Rules of Dada, reaching the Billboard 200. They also hold a Guinness World Record for the Largest Pillow Fight ever.

World-class music powered by country’s fastest LTE

The Plus63 Music & Arts Festival is just the beginning of a yet another star-studded and jampacked year for Smart Music Live as it sets out to bring more globally renowned music acts closer to Filipino fans.

All set for the festival? Get into the groove by streaming the music and videos of Kid Ink and Dada Life using Smart’s data-packed promos powered by Smart LTE, the country’s fastest LTE network as recognized by UK-based firm OpenSignal and certified by Internet testing and analysis leader Ookla.

Festivalgoers can hang out at the Smart Music Live Zone, which features Instagram-worthy installations that show top YouTube content you can enjoy with Smart’s Video Every Day promo. As a big treat, subscribers who can also claim free Instagram printouts at the Smart Zone using the official hashtags #SmartPlus63 and #SmartMusicLive.

Smart customers can also get updates and get a chance to win tickets by following Smart’s official accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For ticket information, check out the Plus63 Festival official Facebook page and official website.

Set in the vibrant seaside town of Dumaguete, the play revolves around Charlene, who’s dream of becoming a star seems to be within reach until a series of unfortunate events compels the young dreamer to sell chicharon and mani. Her life as a vendor intersects with other children and characters who are striving to define their life purpose.

Scharon Mani was a musical hit from Dumaguete, and now it’s the Cebuano’s turn to witness this masterpiece. The Cebu show was produced by Cebu’s premiere theater communications company, 2TinCans Philppines, Inc. and front-lined by some of Cebu’s topnotch theater actors.

Here’s a sample performance of the song Dumzville by the cast of Scharon Mani.

Scharon Mani was an adaptation from a book by Junsly Kitay and utilizes songs by The Belltower Project. It will be staged at the Centerstage of SM Seaside City Cebu on December 7, 8, and 9, with Matinee performance at 2pm and Gala performance at 7:30pm.

Tickets are priced at ₱350, ₱600, ₱1000, and are available via Yapsody and Ticket2Me websites. For more details, visit 2TinCans.ph and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

I’ve been using a BackJoy SitSmart in the office for over 3 years now and I could not seat well without it anymore. I believe it it really improved my posture and I said goodbye to back pains every since. You can read more about my BackJoy SitSmart experience on my previous blog.

During the event, we did a simple posture correction yoga using a BackJoy SitSmart Posture Core. We were first taught on how to sit correctly using the BackJoy SitSmart Posture Core and I can really tell the difference. We then proceeded with some yoga poses in a sitting position. It was short but an eye opening experience on how we should take care of our posture and how easy it is to exercise using BackJoy.

The BackJoy SitSmart Posture Core is a bit bigger compared to the one I currently own. I already replaced my old BackJoy SitSmart in the office and hopefully this will improve my posture even more.

BackJoy also introduced their new products during the event.

SitSmart Posture Core

This is a revolutionary active sitting device with a patented cup-design that tilts the pelvis and tips the body forward. Visual indicators on the seat guide the users to sit correctly, while built-in finger grip allows easy sit adjustments. Made from closed-cell EVA, it is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

SitzRight Seat Cushion

Made of soft, supportive EVA material, it was designed to help you sit with better posture, alleviating fatigue and discomfort. The contoured design has higher pillars in the back that prop your pelvis up and open the angle between the upper body and legs, reducing strain on the hip joints and encouraging proper posture. SitzRight also features a unique cutout that provide pressure relief for your tailbone.

Perfect Fit Lumbar Support

An excellent support cushion with a patented port and pillar technology that encourages the natural curvature of the lower back, and dual panels that help soothe spine pressure. For added convenience, it comes with adjustable straps that can be easily attached to the user’s chair or car seat.

BackJoy products are available in SM City Cebu and SM Seaside City Cebu.

I visited Coron during my birthday with my blogger bestie, Doyzkie. I usually plan whenever I go on a trip but since I don’t have anything planned for my birthday, I decided to book a flight to Coron for a weekend trip.

We arrived in Coron early in the morning and we went straight to The Funny Lion, our home for 2 nights. It took about 30 minutes to get to the resort from Busuanga Airport, and we paid Php150 each for the fare. We were welcomed by Earl, the friendly and accommodating receptionist of The Funny Lion. He also allowed us to check-in early since there’s an available room.

The Funny Lion is a modern boutique resort located along the coastline of Sitio Jolo, Poblacion V that is teeming with virgin mangrove trees. The resort has this modern yet rustic and relaxing vibe. It’s truly a perfect venue to for a relaxing getaway.

The Room

The 31 room boutique resort has 3 room categories – Cub Room, King Room and Pride Room. We stayed at their Cub Room, the most affordable among the 3 for 2 nights. The Cub Room features 2 twin beds, and pull out bed. It can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children below 6 years old or 3 adults. The room has a modern contemporary interiors featuring woods and earth tone colors. This gives the room a relaxing and rustic ambiance.

The Cub room is also complete with amenities like TV, mini refrigerator, AC, hot and cold shower, toiletries, and hairdryer. I love how they use refillable glass bottles for their shampoo, body wash and drinking water.

We also received complimentary The Funny Lion sling bag and bandana which are perfect accessories for an adventure filled day in Coron. Snacks and drinks inside the mini refrigerator are also complimentary.

There’s WiFi in the resort but for some reason it doesn’t work inside our room. Data signal is also weak. Good thing there’s a bench just right outside our room where we can lounge and connect to WiFi. You know, social media duties, ahah!

The Pool

It was the pool area of The Funny Lion that made me want to stay at this resort. The Funny Lion has a stunning infinity pool and jacuzzi with a view of the mangrove forest just outside the resort. It also has lounge chairs for some tanning sessions or relaxing while sipping your favorite cocktails.

We actually dipped in the pool as soon as we finished settling in our room because it was truly inviting. The hotel staff also gave us free cocktails and organic body sprays for a more relaxing experience.

Pride Rock Deck

The Pride Rock Deck is probably my favorite spot in the resort because of the sunset, and view of the bay and near by islands. After our adventure-filled island hopping activity during our 2nd day, we went straight to rooftop of the resort for some happy hour cocktails and brick oven pizza. They offer buy one take one on cocktails from 4pm to 7pm. The Pride Rock Deck also has one of the best sunset views in Coron.

Cocktails, pizza, jacuzzi and sunset! What a way to end the day!

Hunt Restaurant

We had our complimentary daily breakfast at Hunt Restaurant. The breakfast buffet spread features traditional Filipino and international selections. They have rice, eggs, waffles, pancakes, sausages, cereals and breads. The Hunt Restaurant also serves ala carte dishes for all-day dining.

Coron Tour

A trip to Coron is not complete without experiencing it’s beautiful spots. On our first day, we visited Maquinit Hot Spring and Mt. Tapyas.

Maquinit Hot Spring is quite far from the town and we booked a tricycle for Php500 which is the standard rate. Each tricycle can accommodate up to 4 persons. The entrance fee to Maquinit Hot Spring is Php200 per person. Please note that outside food and drinks are not allowed to be brought inside.

After Maquinit Hot Spring, we asked our tricycle driver to drop us at the foot of Mt. Tapyas. Getting to the top requires physical endurance as you are required to conquer 724 steps. The view from the top was worth the climb though. It will give you a panoramic view of Coron town and nearby islands. We made it just in time for sunset and it just keeps getting better and better as the sun goes down.

On our second day in Coron we went island hopping and booked Coron Ultimate Tour 1. We visited CYC Beach, Skeleton Wreck, Coral Garden, Atwayan Beach, Twin Lagoon and Kayangan Lake. The island hopping tour cost Php1300 per person and it already comes with entrance fees, guide fees and lunch.

Palawan is truly one of the best islands in the world because of it’s beautiful islands, underwater scenery, and friendly locals. I really had one of the most memorable birthday trip, thanks to The Funny Lion.

Also Read: El Nido, Palawan Getaway and Sample Itinerary