A Little Birthday Break

Things have been rough lately, so I figured I deserved a little something for my birthday. Nothing big, just a short escape to clear my head and take a breather.

Honestly, I thought this trip wasn’t going to happen. I filed for leave months in advance, but a few weeks before my planned flight, I got the dreaded "not approved" email. Classic. I had to push again last minute, and thankfully, despite how messy the internal process was, I got some support. In the end, I only got one day of paid leave out of it, which is ridiculous, but it is what it is.

Even with all that back-and-forth, I was still thankful I got to pull it off. Huge shoutout to the Cebu Pacific Air team for helping me put together a multi-city trip, Davao to Manila to Cebu and back. I fly often, but this one gave me a bit of a headache during the booking process. Thankfully, their team made it smooth. Even when I had to make last-minute changes in my Manila schedule, they adjusted the flight without any fuss. That kind of support matters a lot.

Manila was short but packed. Just two nights, but definitely worth it. I got to attend the press conference of Korean actor Song Joong Ki. He was charming, well-spoken, and just as good-looking in person. It was fun hearing him talk about how excited he was for his fan meeting in Manila, all thanks to his partnership with IAm Worldwide as their 2025 headliner and brand ambassador. Big thanks to PublicityAsia for making that experience possible.

Right after the fan meeting, I had a fun hotpot dinner with NepC and Bench. It was quick but full of laughter. From there, I had to rush back to Hop Inn Hotel in Aseana to prep for my 5 AM flight to Cebu. Grateful to Hop Inn for hosting me, their location made things easier and more convenient given my crazy schedule.

Landed in Cebu around 7 AM, running on barely any sleep, but still pushed through. I had only a few minutes to get from the airport to Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark, where I was checking in. I needed to freshen up fast because Pau's family was already at Cebu Ocean Park. Day one in Cebu started with marine life — aquariums, sea creatures, and all that. It reminded me of my fisheries school days. Still, it's always cool seeing them up close again. That night, we had dinner at Sugbo Mercado where we casually ordered two kilos of lechon for three adults and two kids. A bit much, but hey, when you're in Cebu, lechon is non-negotiable.

On day two, we went to Cebu Safari and Adventure Park. It’s a bit of a drive, around two hours, but totally worth it. We saw everything from marine animals to birds to big cats. The bird show was surprisingly fun, and we really took our time going around. After that, we drove back and dropped by Taboan Market to get pasalubong like chicharon and bulad. Dinner was at Pungko-Pungko sa Fuente, where you just pick what you want and eat with your hands, a very local, very Cebu kind of meal.

Before heading back to the hotel, we passed by Sol’s Halo-Halo. I never miss a chance to stop by there. Still the best halo-halo in Cebu for me. Always has been.

The next day, we had breakfast, packed up, and headed back to the airport for our flight home to Davao.

This trip was exactly what I needed. It was my first time staying at Jpark Island Resort & Waterpark, and I loved everything about it. The place is a stunner, but what stood out most was their staff. They weren’t robotic or overly scripted. They talked like real people, helped without hesitation, and just made the whole stay enjoyable. I’d definitely go back.

Cebu never disappoints. Short trip, but full of moments I needed. Still tired, still catching up on rest, but I’m heading back to work with a full heart.