The Christmas season is approaching and so is the famous 12.12  sale. This is the time of the year where tons of online shopping sites and establishments offer the best deals on their products and services just in time for the holidays.

I love shopping! I prefer to buy my stuff online because it’s more comfortable and convenient. It’s much easier for me to sit on my favorite couch, find what I like and have it delivered to my front door. Do you also love online shopping?

Whether you shop online or in your favorite establishment, the 12.12 Christmas Sale is the perfect time to buy your favorite items, to shop for gifts, book tickets and a lot more at cheaper prices.

For your last minute holiday shopping, skip the traffic and the lines, and shop online. PayMaya has awesome perks when you shop online (and offline) using your virtual or physical card.

•          Get 1%, 10%, or 100% cashback when you purchase at least P500 worth of gifts online or in-stores using your PayMaya virtual or physical card.

•          Get a fixed, one-time cashback of P150 when you accumulate P5,000 worth of transactions with your PayMaya virtual or physical card

•          Get a 30% off, max P150, of your Lazada purchase when you redeem the collectible PayMaya voucher from the Lazada app. This is applicable for a min spend of P500.

If you wanna shop in your favorite establishments, you can also enjoy awesome cashbacks from PayMaya. Just use PayMaya QR and pay within seconds! Apart from the convenience, this also offers amazing rewards!

•          Get 1%, 10%, or 100% cashback when you #ScanToPay via PayMaya QR with a min of P100 for you in-store purchases. Maximum amount for cashback per user is P500.

•          Get a fixed, one-time cashback of P150 when you accumulate P5,000 worth of transactions with your PayMaya QR.

•          Get two chances of enjoying up to 100% cashback when you #ScanToPay via PayMaya QR this weekend (Dec. 14-15). The min. purchase for this is P100 and the max cashback per user is P500.

•          Get a chance to win one of the 11 iPhone 11 units being given away at Robinsons Department store. All you have to do is #ScanToPay via PayMaya QR, and spend a min of P100 for one raffle entry.

With all these perks, one can truly say that paying with PayMaya is not only more convenient, but also more rewarding than with cash!

Aside from in store and online shopping, you can also use PayMaya to buy prepaid load, to send money, and to pay bill.  Add Money to your PayMaya account at over 40,000 partners such as 7-Eleven, Palawan Pawnshop, Smart Padala Centers, SM Stores Business Services and Robinsons Department Store Business Centers. 

If you don’t have PayMaya account, this is the right time to download the app and enjoy exciting rewards. Sign up using my code: MARCOPAYMAYA to earn P50 on your account instantly!

You can use the app at online stores or websites that accept credit cards or debit cards. You can use the physical card at establishments here and abroad, wherever Visa or Master card are accepted. PayMaya is available on App Store or Google Playstore.

Mark your calendar now! Remember, this 12.12 holiday sale don’t pay cash. PayMaya!

To check out PayMaya’s latest promos, you can always visit paymaya.com/deals

Basilan Business Hotel is conveniently located in the humble town of Isabela. It is just a stone’s throw away from the port area and some commercial establishments. The hotel is ideal for those seeking a pleasurable stay in the province of Basilan.

We stayed for an overnight in Basilan Business Hotel. Our air-conditioned room comes with two comfy beds with soft and clean bedding. It has also flat screen tv with cable channels, wooden cabinet, and mini refrigerator. The room also features a private bathroom with shower facility, a spray bidet, fresh towels and complimentary toiletries.

Santa Cruz Island is a must visit destination in Zamboanga city. It is famous for its pink sand. Yes, there's a pink beach! It's one of  the best pink beaches in the world that you should include in your travel bucket list.

Situated in Basilan Strait,  about 20 minutes boat ride from the city proper, Santa Cruz Island offers an amazing pink sand that results from pulverized red organ pipe coral washed up from offshore mixes with white sand. The blue and green shades of the sea and the lush greenery add more beauty to the island. You can indulge swimming, sun bathing, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities.

Malamawi Beach in Isabela City is of one of the best beaches in the province of Basilan. It features a long white sandy beach and turquoise waters like the white beach in Boracay. I never thought that I could see this kind of beautiful beach in Mindanao. Malamawi Beach is an amazing place indeed.

Aside form the powdery sands and crystal waters, another attraction is a stilts bridge with overlooking view of the open sea. At the end of the bridge, there's an area with shades and chairs where you can relax while looking the waves.

Kain Na!, a food and travel festival by the Department of Tourism (DOT), aims to promote the Philippines as center of food and gastronomy as well the country's farm tourism. It was organized in partnership with the Ayala Malls which held in various cities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

I was fortunate to be invited in the 4th installment of DOT's 'Kain Na!' 2019 held at the Ayala Centrio Mall in Cagayan De Oro City. The food festival was joined by members of the press, staff from several DOT Regional Offices, government officials of Cagayan De Oro City and hundreds of international and domestic food enthusiasts.

RedDoorz, Southeast Asia’s leading and fastest growing tech-driven hotel management and booking platform, recently launched its Christmas campaign “#MomentsToCelebrate, #JustARedDoorzAway” - Christmas presents and surprises that will unlock the joys and shareable moments of travel for families, couples, barkada, and individuals of all ages.

I was fortunate to be part of the RedDoorz event together with other bloggers and influencers. Executives from RedDoorz Philippines also graced the event to welcome the guests and to introduce their Christmas campaign. The intimate event was hosted by DJ Suzy and IC Mendoza.

Most of Pinoys living in Manila City, Pasay City, Caloocan City, Malabon City and nearby cities prefer to ride LRT 1. I believe that LRT-1 is one of the  most important means of transport in our country. It is also the fastest and the cheapest means. 

The ikotMNL mobile app gives passengers useful information like train departures and arrivals, crowd monitoring in stations, train fares, and trains service hours, among others.

Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of LRT-1 train line, recently launched the brand-new and free ikotMNL mobile app featuring a convenient one-stop information for commuters and tourists traveling along the route of LRT-1 in Metro Manila. 

AirAsia recently unveiled a giant Christmas tree in their new home at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

If you are planning to visit the province of Basilan, you need to book a flight going to Zamboanga City. The province is located in the southern coast of the geographic Zamboanga Peninsula and Zamboanga City is the gateway to Basilan. There are fast crafts and ferries from Zamboanga City to Basilan as early as 6:45AM to as late as 4:45PM daily.

I recommend to travel with Weesam Express. Travel time from Zamboanga City to Isabela City is just one hour. You can choose from first class (air conditioned), Economy (air conditioned) to non aircon seating. Fare rate starts at P170.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), hosted the Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) 2019, the country’s largest annual travel trade event, and invited foreign tour operators and buyers to experience of what the country can offer as a tourism destination through post tours.

I'm very fortunate to  be part of the PHITEX 2019's post tour featuring La Union and Sagada. Foreign participants who joined the tour were from Japan and Bahrain. We're accompanied by representatives from Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) and Shroff Travel. 

If you are planning to visit  Agusan del Norte, you can stay at the Ocean Bloom Beach Resort, a family-run boutique resort that fuses Mediterranean and rustic Filipino design. It's around 15 to 20 minutes drive from Butuan City airport ( Bancasi Airport ).

Located in the quite town of Buenavista, Ocean Bloom Beach Resort is one of the nice beach resorts in the province. It's a beach front resort that features spacious and comfy rooms, a main villa, an open air rooftop aptly named “Ocean View”, open cottages and a "Santorini" inspired structure.

I stayed in a Deluxe Room. From my door, I can the see the beautiful Santorini inspired structure with background of the open sea. The view is very relaxing. My air-conditioned room comes with queen size bed and a single bed with complete bedding, flat screen tv with cable channels, refrigerator, coffee/tea maker and wooden cabinet. The bathroom has shower facility, a spray bidet, fresh towels and complimentary toiletries. WIFI is only available in some areas.

The open cottages and beach area are open to all. Even you don't book a room, you can still enter the resort. Pay the entrance fee and you are allowed to go around. If you come with your family and friends, there are available rustic “Bamboo Houses” that can accommodate 10 pax each or “Open Cottages” for rent w/ a barbecue grill area.

Please be advised that their beach area has grayish sands and blue waters. It has simple yet serene beach area. It's a great place to chill especially when the weather is hot or during summer season.

At the moment, the resort has no restaurant. It's advisable to bring your own food. There's a "Karinderya" near the resort that sell Filipino dishes. There's also a mini store inside the resort that offers instant noodles, chips, juices, soda, bread and a lot more. 

For events, there are several open spaces such as the Lanai deck and extension, and the newly built “Love Dome”, that make the perfect setting for weddings, team buildings, reunions and other special occasions. The ‘Love Dome’ in particular, a Santorini-inspired structure with a circling veranda and large stage, has slowly become the landmark by which the resort is becoming famous for.

Overall, I love the serenity of the resort. It's far from the crowded city, pollution and traffic jam. I also love its green design and eco-friendly operations. Ocean Bloom Beach Resort  is surrounded with various types of flowers, plants and trees, as well as proper solid waste management/segregation, energy-saving light bulbs, naturally well-lit and well-ventilated rooms. 

Ocean Bloom Boutique Beach Resort
Location:Purok 4, Manapa, Buenavista, Agusan Del Norte, Philippines
Contact Number: 0918 449 0932
Email Address: oceanbloomphil@gmail.com

Mad Monkey Hostel is one the coolest and hippest accommodation in Siargao. The hostel features a beautiful swimming pool, a nice restaurant and comfy rooms. WIFI is available throughout the resort.

The hostel is one of the backpacker's favorite when it comes for a budget-friendly accommodation. Compared with other hotel rooms in the area, Mad Monkey Hostel is much affordable. The air-conditioned room can accommodate up to 8 pax. Each bed comes with comfy bed with white bedding, a small fan, and charging ports.