Dive-Monster Rhoody

I am member of the new formed Dumaguete Toastmasters and we were invited to visit a speech contest in Bacolod. For those who are not familiar what Toastmasters are, a few words to explain.

Sunrise over Bais

Dumaguete Toastmaster-Gwapas on their way to Bacolod

What are Toastmasters

Toastmaster International is organization to develop speaking and leadership skills organized in 13,000 clubs with more than 260,000 members worldwide.  One of that club was recently founded in Dumaguete.

Dumaguete Toastmasters in Bacolod

Why I  joined Dumaguete Toastmasters

English is not my first language and I never learned it proper in school, so it is a perfect opportunity to improve both, English and speaking skills. I never was really nervous to speak in front of a crowd, but talked many times a lot of bullsh$%. Well, I still do and enjoy that a lot.

Don Don, who took the group-picture above and of course can't be left out

However, the outlines of the different speeches one has to hold are pretty cool and teach me a lot about how to organize different kinds of speeches and how to deliver them in the best way. After each speech an evaluator will “score” your speech and if you hit the goals, also criticize the speaker, gives suggestions.

There are regional, national and international competitions, and the Dumaguete Toastmasters were invited to the Division D contest in Bacolod. Our club-charter is still in progress, so we could not join the competition, but I decided to join the trip as it will be surely a great experience, even the trip is pretty long.

We left Dumaguete at 5am in the morning and arrived at the Middletown Hotel in Bacolod (where the competition was held around 11am. Melinda Sisles who invited us for that competition welcomed us and we were invited for a bite to eat. The hosts also took over our registration fee.

The competition started 30 minutes late (which can be pretty much considered spot on in Philippine time). I do admit that the opening of each toastmaster session bores me a bit as it is a kind of longish intro of each and everything and after a few times it is just repeating the same phrases one had heard many times before. No difference at this event… well, there was a difference, I believe each Toastmaster who attended the meeting was introduced personally and with name about 18,3 times. I simply prefer always not to waste valuable lifetime and get straight to the point, but whoever was attending any time a Philippino celebration, event or contest knows that it wets the ladies pants and gives guys a hard-on to see or hear their name somewhere mentioned. Simply a thing which need to be accepted.

I am long enough here that I am used to that and usually use that time to check my emails on my mobile or just go through my notes for whatever task I have.

Finally the rules where announced and the competition started. First competition was the Table-topics, where the speaker need to hold a 2-3 minute unprepared speech to a given topic. Next was the humorous speech followed by the international speech.

While I was impressed with some speaker, a few were also in the” what-the-fu$% are they doing”- category. However, a great experience and I am convinced that Dumaguete Toastmasters will kick some asses on that competition when we are finally chartered and can participate in those competitions. For the results please visit the Dumaguete Toastmasters website.

Winner of the Division-D Speech Competition in Bacolod

After the competition we refreshed and went out for dinner to a kind of open air pizza place and of course a cold beer. The pizza was huge and really good.

While our president and I had some good Chikka with several TM’s from Bacolod and Davao, our younger TM’s took off for an hour or two to take care of important things. You need to know, dear valuable readers, that for an Philippino in his/her early twenties the word “Shopping Mall” let them forget everything around and 1000 reasons will be found why one need to go to the mall “now na”, even forgetting to thank the “donors” of our nice dinner.

That Pizza feeds a mouth or two !

However, I enjoyed the time in the restaurant. Sadly I could not join my Dumaguete Toastmasters for their trip to the silk farm the next day. I needed to head home for some work and jumped at around 4:30am in a Ceres bus to go on a 7.5 hours trip back to Dumaguete in an uncomfortable bus with a crying baby in front and behind me.

The trip to Bacolod was definitely a great experience for me and the joining Dumaguete Toastmasters and I hope we have more experiences like that in the near future.

Meetings Of Dumaguete Toastmasters

If you have any further question, just drop them a line via the contact form of their website: DumagueteToastmasters . The Dumaguete Toastmasters Club meets twice a month, each 2nd and 4th Saturday you can meet them at the second floor of Casablanca Restaurant at the Boulevard in Dumaguete.

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The Catlin SeaView Survey is a new launched scientific survey about the status of our coral reefs. The Survey is the first comprehensive study about the composition and health of our reef system to a depth of 100 meter.

The Catlin Seaview Survey is first and foremost an important scientific expedition. It aims to carry out the first comprehensive study to document the composition and health of coral reefs on the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea across an unprecedented depth range (0-100m) – addressing a series of important questions regarding the changes associated with the rapidly warming and acidifying oceans.

However this is not just another scientific survey.

Usually scientific surveys don’t have the ability to really capture the public’s imagination and engage people in the science. Expeditions and their findings tend only to be fascinating to other scientists. This  project is very different. The images from the expedition, when stitched together, will allow scientists and the public at large to explore the reef remotely through any device connected to the Internet. It will allow them to choose a location, dip underwater, look around and go off on a virtual dive. It has the potential of engaging people with the life and science of our oceans in a way that’s not been possible until now. It is a very exciting time.

Source

Pictures from the Catlin SeaView Survey

The Catlin Seaview Survey plans to cover big parts of the great barrier reef. For taking the picture, the Catlin Seaview Survey Team designed a special underwater vehicle. 4 cameras mounted on a DPV, also known as an underwater propulsion vehicle or underwater scooter, takes 360 degree shots. The cameras for the shallow reef survey have been specially designed to be able to reveal the reefs and oceans like never before. They take 360 degree, geo-located panoramic images every 4-6 seconds while traveling at a speed of approximately 4km/h.

The Catlin Seaview Survey begins in September 2012. The above vehicle is in the water since a few days and already provides breathtaking 360 degree round- views.

Click here for first examples

On Board the Catlin SeaView Survey

A project like that needs of course some good sponsors. Like the name already says, Catlin is the name-sponsor. Also on board are famous names like Richard Fitzpatrick and Christophe Bailhache. Both were playing with the worlds first underwater live-view which fits perfectly to the profile of the company which brought us already the surface-views of our wonderful planet. Nobody else than Google is the second big sponsor of this project.

I definitely look forward not only what the Catlin SeaView Survey finds out about our wonderful underwater-world, but what more breathtaking pictures we are able to see after that small appetizer we got already.

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While my friends went to Oslob to see the Whale Sharks, Rechel and I went on Valentines day to the White Beach around a 10 minute drive from Tipolo Resort on Moalboal‘s Panagsama Beach to the north.

My original plan was to go to Pescador Island for some SCUBA diving which got destroyed by a swollen jaw and bad toothache when I woke up, but that White Beach trip turned out to be a perfect substitute with a lot of quality time with Rechel.

Getting to White Beach

The easiest to get there is to take one of the many trike drivers hanging around at Panagsama Beach. You need to negotiate about the price as usual, the prices for a ride going from 300 to 500 peso.

Rechel found the same guy who took us from Moalboal market to our resort and got a great deal: 2 ways for 250 peso only, with the pick up from the beach back being flexible, just a quick text 15 minutes before we want to go back.

Brown White Beach of Moalboal

First thing to say, it is not really a white Beach like on a postcard, or one who expects a Boracay like beach. However, it is a nice stretch of beach and great to spend some nice hours relaxed with the feet in the sand.

Several cottages are at the back of the beach which can be rented for an overnight stay, but honestly 1,500 Peso are ridiculous for some old nippa huts with electric fan.

We rented a small shelter thingy for 150 peso attached to a small Sari-Sari shop, what might be the reason why it is 100 peso less than the others.

You are better off bringing your own snacks unless you favorite is that awful “just add water” stuff. The drinks at the hut we bought there were cold enough is you drink fast enough.

We also bought some souvenir T-shirts for us and our 2 monsters back in Dumaguete and had a great time.

Of course we jumped into the water, played around, swam a bit and got sunburned.  At 4 pm it was time to text the trike driver for the pick-up to get us back to Panagsama for a beauty-nap before our Valentines dinner. Surely White Beach in Moalboal is worth a trip for everybody who wants a few hours off the main tourist area at Panagsama.

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The Chili Bar in Moalboal is probably the place to hang out in the evening. Moalboal is in terms of nightlife pretty limited with only a few watering holes and I actually have no idea where all that online reports about the nightlife come from, but there is not a lot of it.

The Chili Bar is located at the waterfront so you always have a nice little cool breeze from the ocean and it has definitely the best chairs in Moalboal to enjoy your stay. The two pool-tables are in good conditions and the bar seems to have a regular crowd meeting there in the evening.

Our company went to Chili Bar each night and soaked ourselves with some cold beer.  Ok, no cold beer the first view hours, the long brownout that day took care that our plans for a few cold ones were delayed.

The waitresses at Chili Bar are certainly no rocket scientists, but good looking and fun to have a small chat with. One good invention are that little bells the Bar has on the tables and whenever you feel like a refreshment, just ring and one of the staff will be at your table in seconds to take your order.The Bar is well stocked with liquors and the bartender is capable to mix some good drinks, worth their money.

Food at Chili Bar

The menu at Chili Bar has a nice variety, missing only a bit more finger-food dishes. Our company tried several with mixed results. The Goulash soup actually tasted like a perfect bolognaise sauce but was from Goulash Soup as far away as the Philippines winning the soccer world-cup.

But then the Chili Bar Pizza arrived…

What can I say about that, it was simply mouthwatering… a thin tasty crust and tasty toppings prepared to perfection. That Pizza is one of the best (if not that absolute best) I ever had in the Philippines. The favorite was the Chili Special for 240 Peso only. On the first evening they didn’t have any ground beef and the Pizza was already the top choice of our group.

The next two evening the Chili Special was our snack of choice and there was always a new one ordered when the last slice on the table was eaten. The kitchen at Chili Bar in Moalboal takes the last order at midnight what is also pleasant; we all know that this is the time where a snack is needed before the beer affects ones mind too much.

All that Restaurant Chefs in Dumaguete should go for a trip to Chili Bar to take a course how to make outstanding Pizza for little money. Whatever stupid excuses I will hear in the future in Dumaguete will be hammered down and declared as bullshit, probably with the bad footnote about their cooking skills. Cheap Pizza chains excluded…

The Bar is closing normally at 1:30 in the morning, but with some good will and extra tipping before closing time, the staff was convinced to feed our thirsty souls a few hours longer.

All together the Chili Bar is a great watering hole to hang out with friends for a drink or seven with awesome Pizza in a central location in Moalboal.

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At 12:45 we arrived at Tipolo Beach Resort in Moalboal and checked in. We got informed that the rooms are not ready, and it is brownout, which was no issue, the official check in time is 2:00pm and as it was not that hot and we were hungry anyway, we decided to have a bite to eat at the Last Filling Station, the Restaurant which belongs to the Tipolo Beach Resort.

The menu is not that huge, but has a good variety of dishes, so everybody will be able to find something for his/her taste. We ordered a sandwich, a Tom Yum soup and a chicken Basil Curry, or something like that, with two garlic rice.

The kitchen took their time but after the dishes arrived we were pleasantly surprised, the sandwich was on a ciabatta bread and was really delicious. The Tom Yum soup had a good spice to it without being too fiery and the basil chicken was also very delicious. (more about the restaurant later) Due to the brownout we could not get a shake, so we settled for Coke Light, which turned out to be (like almost everywhere in the Philippines) Coke Zero.

I texted Kim that we arrived and there is no cold beer for him because of the brownout, and his reply was certainly no mirror image of high excitement.

Tipolo Beach Resort in Moalboal…

The Resort is actually pretty small with some 8 rooms in native style. The rooms are what one would call functional with bamboo bed (or two), bamboo cabinet, a ref and aircon. The bathrooms have hot water and there is a save for your valuables. Well, as long your valuables are not bigger than a wallet and some cash. My camera did not fit into it.  However, it is basically what one can expect for 1,600 peso.

The rooms are in a small garden on a small cliff with a few steps to a tiny patch of beach with white sand on low tide. My room was described as ocean view, but honestly you need to be either cross-eyed or showing good will to view the ocean from my room at Tipolo Beach Resort. You get a glimpse of the ocean behind the green of the nice garden.

Our room had two single beds (there was no other room available upon booking) and the resort does not keep any extra double beds to be more flexible. Those bamboo beds are not heavy and cost around 800 peso, so having 4 sets of single or double bed as spare would not be that expensive and would make the place a bit more flexible, to adjust the rooms to guests demands.

Funny regulations of Tipolo Beach Resort

Without doing any research, I can tell that there is something German behind the scenes. The rules and regulations of Tipolo Beach Resort are pretty strict  and you cannot bring a new found friend over night if not registered during your check in and the way some of the rules being explained use examples which honestly sound rather stupid to me, … like using a glass of water for brushing your teeth to help saving our beautiful planet from global warming… or don’t bring a new friend he/she might have AIDS.

I would add: Don’t take a shower while having mens, you might get a sick and don’t go outside with wet hair when it is raining, you get a sick too (common advice from Pinoy Grandmas to their daughter). I also don’t like that you need to book a massage via the front desk for totally overpriced 300 peso/ hour. First I want to know and see the person which is touching me, second, 300 peso per hour is simply a ridiculous joke… or it includes already a happy ending, well, I can’t judge, I did not try …

A word about the booking a room at Tipolo Resort in Moalboal.

I booked the rooms via their website, which uses professional booking software and you can pay via PayPal. To reserve a room a down payment of one night was needed, what is fair enough. I paid the remaining balance a day before we went there. That is advisable as it reduces the amount of cash you need to carry around. Moalboal has no ATM and you better plan your trip proper to bring enough money.

All together, it is a nice little place with friendly helpful staff and a great restaurant, perfect for a family vacation. When planning to have a bit of a party or finding a friend, you might consider staying somewhere else. So would I stay there again? I am not sure, it is a nice little place, great restaurant, nice staff, but maybe a it too “Germanized” when it comes to rules and regulations. I certainly look deeper  into alternatives to Tipolo Beach Resort in Moalboal.

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Trip to Moalboal from Dumaguete

After a short cut trip to Angeles in January cause my little Daisy was in the hospital and I needed to fly back home to Dumaguete, I decided to meet Kim and some friends in Moalboal, where he went with some friends. Moalboal is about a three of four hour trip with public transport from Dumaguete on the west coast of Cebu.

As it is also Valentines and with Rechels terrific job she did the last 2 month with all that Sendong relief stuff, it was a great opportunity to bring her for a few days without kids , house duties , etc, just to have a few days off in a different environment.

Our Helper - Ate Gary

It is the first time we leave our two monsters alone at home, well not really alone, our part time helper – Ate Gerry (named after the lightning speed of her work which is about the same as Spongbob Squarepants little pet) takes care of the house for the next for days until we will be back. I also gave the monsters my flashdrive with 8 GB movies which will keep them quiet for many hours.

So all should be sorted and sunburned like a boiled lobster after our trip to snorkel with the whale-sharks in Oslob,  Rechel and I went to bed around 8.30 pm. Of course I stood up after 2 hours sleep to watch my favourite german soccer team – FC Bayern Munich- to win against Kaiserslautern. Back to bed at 2 am to rest for the travel day to Moalboal.

After a short night sleep,  the alarm woke us up around 6 am to get ready for our trip to Moalboal. I checked quickly my mail and did a quick run to the bank to get some money for our trip. Moalboal has no ATM so you better visit with a pocket full of cash.

Our monsters seemed to be quite happy to get rid of us, especially when I gave them the flash-drive and their eyes turned into wide-screen squares.

I had only two coffee at that time and therefore my mood wasn’t that good. A quick good-morning rant about each and everyone sorted that and I was ready to start the day.

Did I mention that it totally sucks to carry heavy back bags on sunburned shoulders? And I can show you within a blink of an eye a lot of beautiful things which should suck, whenever they are awake…. Back-bags are none of it.

Off to Moalboal

However, the god of trike-driver was on our side and we caught one right outside of our gate, even it must have been one of the smallest trikes I ever squeezed my big ass into of whole Dumaguete, it was appreciated and at 8:45 am (45 minutes after our planed time, so perfect or even a bit early for philippino time) we left our Casa.

Ceres Liner

He brought us to the Ceres liner terminal and again, perfect timing, as a bus was about to leave for Manjuyod and will pass Tampi, where we get on the Ferry to pass the Tanon straight for Cebu. Tampi is about 18 kilometers north of Dumaguete and the bus ride there was 20 Peso each. If you get a aircon bus it is 30 peso per peso.  As it was pretty cloudy, the regular non-aircon bus was totally fine and we reached Tampi after 30 minutes drive.

Maayo Shipping Lines

Maayo shipping lines is leaving from Tampi to Bato each half hour and the trip across the Tanon Straight lasts a bit longer than 30 minutes. The sea was not that rough and the few babies on the ferry were quiet, 70 peso per person well invested.

Ferry Bato to Tampi

In Bato Rechel bought some water and candies to support her waste-line and we waited at the street for another Ceres liner to pick us up and bring us to Moalboal. The bus came after 30 minutes waiting and we got some seats on the left side, which are actually for 3 person, but were pretty well filled with mine and Rechels back-cheeks. It was again no aircondition (Bato – Moalboal 70peso each) and as the sun was still hiding, we had a convenient scenic drive along the west coast of Cebu, up north to our final destination Moalboal.

Trike in Moalboal

Trike in Moalboal

At 12:30we arrived in Moalboal, where we got an overpriced trike for150 Peso and the last 10 minutes down to the beach to Tipolo Resort.

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Florentina Homes in Dumaguete is always a great place for me to visit and have a shake and a bite to eat. My two monsters love it and don’t get bored as there is so much to look at, what keeps them busy all the time. Gabby’s Bistro at Florentina Homes is a meeting point for many locals when bonding and having dinner before a night out and also very well frequented by foreigners and tourists, despite the location, which is a bit off the track.

Florentina Homes vibrant concept

Opened a few years ago as an apartment-type of accommodation with a different style compared to anything else in Dumaguete, the concept was that successful that the owner decided to add a Hotel part. Of course it goes along with the style of the whole property and I was watching during the construction how another landmark of Dumaguete is constructed and really was looking forward for the final result.

Florentina Homes – love into the smallest details

Rechel and I were invited to join the grand opening of the Hotel complex of Florentina Homes and of course heaven opened its gates and it started pouring down like there is no tomorrow.

That actually is according to the locals a blessing, but as sunshine is also a blessing, we were blessed for whatever would happen, anyway.

However, a lot of friends and of course very important people came to celebrate with the Florentina Homes – Team. After the obligatory prayers and blessings everybody was invited to have a tour through the new Hotel in Dumaguete.

As I am way to fat to squeeze with that many people through a hotel, Rechel had the honor of doing the job as a reporter and photographer, while I enjoyed the offered mini-burger and frozen yogurt sitting lazy at the Rana Verde Cafe.

As it can be expected, a lot of love to the smallest detail in the finishing touches went also into the Hotel of Florentina Homes and the rooms are spacious and have all a guest can wish for. The interior is simply lovely with good functionality.

I am not sure if I want to have the very top room as I can imagine having slight problems to climb up the steps after a good night out, but I assume that this top-spot is more meant to be for a romantic couple to enjoy the view, coziness and of course themselves.

When it was around 6:30, the rain stopped for a little bit and we decided to use that window to head home. I would have loved to be a bit longer here to celebrate the grand opening of the Florentina Homes Hotel complex, but well, as I am in Dumaguete it is not too hard to visit soon again when the weather is more on our side.

One does not need to be a rocket scientist to know that the Hotel of Florentina Homes will be as successful as the apartments have been from the first day on.

More Info about Florentina Homes in Dumaguete here

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