Yexel’s Toy Museum is a four-story house turned museum in Las Piñas City that showcases thousands of toys and other pop culture memorabilia.
Photo credit: Yexel’s Toy Museum
The museum resembles gigantic Lego bricks stacked together – making it distinct and hard to miss.
Owned by Yexel Sebastian, an avid toy collector and curator of the museum, he started collecting toys since 1989 and hasn’t stopped since.
Trivia: Yexel is the older brother of now deceased Jam Sebastian, one-half of the Philippine YouTube sensation JaMich.
For 300 PHP, you get to see his eclectic toy collection that would instantly send you on a nostalgia trip back to your childhood.
If I were to take a photo a day of each toy in this Imeldific collection, it would literally take me ages to complete. You just have to go here and see them for yourself.
Aside from various toys, each room of the museum displays a different diorama with life-size figures which are built and created by Yexel himself and his team.
Anime/Manga Room Get a chance to stand right next to your favorite anime/manga characters in real life. I don’t know what Jack Skellington is doing here though. He seems a little lost. Hehe.
Disney Room Looks like they added a new character to The Incredibles… Introducing Mr. Inedible. LOL!
Super Mario Room
Sharing the same room with Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Princess Peach, and Bowser makes me feel like I just stepped into the video game of my childhood!
Star Wars Room
I was disappointed that Star Wars got the smallest room of the museum and that a life-size Darth Vader figure was not anywhere in sight at all.
Movies Room
Iron Man Room
The hall containing stunning replicas of the various Iron Man suits is popular among the crowd.
Yexel’s Toy Museum is a fantastic place for all ages.
Those who are self-proclaimed manga, anime, comic book, movie or video game geeks will especially enjoy here.
Some argue that the entrance fee is a little too steep. There is some truth to that considering the poor air-conditioning and unpolished look of some rooms. However, that can be overlooked. Occasional promos do pop up at Metrodeal anyway so you might wanna check that out.
Yexel’s Toy Museum is open Mondays through Sundays, 10 AM to 8 PM.
Try something new this Lenten holiday and plan for an impromptu glamping trip – be on the mountaintop, beach side or even just right outside your neighbor’s backyard!
Glamping is a portmanteau word made by the combination of words glamour and camping. To put it simply, glamping means to camp in style.
And nothing says glamping like a stylish, utilitarian bag that fits everything you need.
Pack sunscreen, toiletries, mosquito repellents, and an itch soothing balm. If possible, choose organic products for a healthier and greener choice. Also, bring a bottle of lavender oil for a good night’s sleep and a well-stocked first aid kit in case of emergency.
Of course, no glamping is ever complete without a S’mores Campfire Kit. Here, I used a recycled plastic food tray and placed in a stick, marshmallows, a Hershey’s chocolate bar and Graham crackers that I’ve divided into sections along marked lines.
Most importantly, never forget to bring lots of water and your campfire meals. When it comes to meals, you can choose to bring a handful of ingredients to cook at the campsite or have prepacked make-ahead meals for a more convenient option.
For our brunch at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort, we brought with us what’s easy to prepare. But as a foodie, I still couldn’t sacrifice flavor over convenience. So we had Na’a Italian Sausage, Delimondo Garlic, and Chili Corned Beef, Pili & Pino Banana and Cacao Granola, Swiss Miss Chocolate drink and Nestle Fresh Milk.
If you’re planning to cook at the campsite, bring outdoor cook and dining sets such as portable stove, butane gas canister, can opener, kettle, collapsible pans and other miscellaneous items like matches, plates, spoons, forks and pocket knife.
Always keep in mind to be responsible for your own waste. The environment is important to each and all of us so leave no trace. Inspect your campsite and rest areas for garbage or spilled food. Pack it in, pack it out.
Should you start a campfire, build a mound fire or use an established fire pan. Keep your fire to a manageable size and make sure to put it out when you break camp.
Lastly, just relax, enjoy and take Instagram-worthy photos! 😉
For this year’s Valentine’s Day, I surprised my boyfriend with a glamping experience at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort.
In turn, he reciprocated my gesture by treating us to Ultrawinds’ Valentine’s dinner buffet. The food was sooo good that we kept getting seconds. I’ll talk more about this in a separate post.
Right after our dinner date, we retreated back to the campsite.
Thankfully, we got a free golf cart ride so we didn’t have to walk all the way from the restaurant.
It was exceptionally quiet when we got there that you could hear a pin drop.
The cool evening air was constantly blowing across the grounds.
So for some warmth, we requested to build a campfire. Their staff brought in a ginormous fire pan, some firewood and a box of matches to start the fire. They also brought a handheld LED light for us to use so we can still have some illumination even after the campfire goes out. Great service! 🙂
The campfire brought joy and new life to the cold, dark night. We made ourselves a few S’mores before hitting the sack.
I woke up early the next day when the bright morning sunlight warmed my side of the tent. I just had to enjoy the spectacular view before my morning shower.
For our accommodation, we had to walk a flight of stairs in order to use their communal shower and toilet facilities. Be warned: there are no heaters so gird your loins for the icy morning showers.
We made our own breakfast using the outdoor cookware we borrowed from our friends – Elai of PS 95:11 and Porsche of THEYANGONE.
There’s the manbear ready to devour his brunch. Hehe. 🙂
We had such an awesome time that didn’t even matter anymore.
For a truly memorable family get together, romantic rendezvous or company outing, I recommend glamping at Ultrawinds Mountain Resort. It’s a refreshing outdoor experience that everyone should try!
After walking my way down from the Chocolate Hills observation deck, I saw ManongJun, the habal-habal driver patiently waiting for me. I mounted myself on the back of his motorcycle and we proceeded downhill. I, then, suddenly remembered all the ATV rental shops we passed by earlier. Considering what little money I had with me, I wasn’t so sure whether I should take an ATV tour or not… After having a long mental debate with myself, I decided to go for it. I had no idea when I can be in Bohol again and I haven’t been on an ATV before. Plus, money can be earned back anyway. #yolo
So I told Manong Jun to wait for me one more time as I take an ATV tour at Chocolate Hills. Thankfully, he obliged.
We then made a stop at one of the ATV rental shops. I just signed a paper, paid some fees and off I went!
No worries if you don’t know how to drive. The ATV is automatic so driving experience is not required and instructions will be given to those who don’t know how to operate it.
The whole tour took about an hour. It was an impulsive decision I did not once regret. My guide was such a professional. He guided me through the woods and meandering trodden paths till we got close to the base of Chocolate Hills. He also took photos and videos of my solitary adventure! I had such a blast!
TIPS:
1. Do not wear white.
2. Do not wear long bottom garments.
3. Slow down when you see puddles.
I was not able to do all of the above since I did not foresee any mud splashing action to happen. So take it from me.
The ATV tour was the highlight of my Chocolate Hills excursion. It’s definitely something that shouldn’t be missed when in Bohol!
DURATION
ATV tour – 1 hour
EXPENSES
ATV rental and miscellaneous fees – 500 PHP
Read about my solo trip to Chocolate Hills here
My Bohol Travel Guide here
Shortly, Ate She was hacking some coconuts for us to replace our lost electrolytes.
And out of nowhere, heavy drops suddenly pelted down from the sky, forcing us to huddle beneath banana trees that provided little shelter from the rain.
What we thought was going to be an effortless downhill hike turned out to be a challenging one because of the heavy downpour.
We really took our time going down the slippery slope and avoided the muddy tracks as much as possible.
In tricky areas, some were forced to go down on all fours…
some five – if you count the butt! In a situation such as this, a trekking pole would definitely come in handy. But if that’s unavailable, just improvise! Pick up any sturdy wooden stick and you’re good to go!
As we were retracing our steps, we saw one of the streams that we spotted earlier. We then took turns washing ourselves to rid of all the dirt, mud and bat droppings covering our bodies. It felt like such a treat!
The intermittent rain stopped for a while and we found ourselves back at the grassy field once again. All of us picked our own spot to sit and relax for a much-needed break.
Someone looks like he found the best spot. Hehe 🙂
Before going to Hindang Falls, we had marang for a quick snack. If you haven’t heard of it before, this fruit is native to the southern part of the Philippines and is closely related to jackfruit.
The walk to the first and second tier of Hindang Falls was unbelievably short and easy.
I couldn’t say the same thing for the third tier, however.
Some opted to remain at this spot and enjoyed the view. But some (I, myself included), dared to take on the challenge.
With no safety gear, not even a harness, we climbed up a very steep, slippery slope where very few people dared to go even on a good day.
We grabbed and gripped on to whatever we can just to see the sequestered tier. One false move and we may never see the light of day again. This climb is probably the riskiest thing I’ve done to date.
YEY! Finally… right in front of our eyes. The majestic third tier of Hindang Falls, one of Iligan’s hidden wonders, standing right behind a cloak of lush green foliage.
Its cool, refreshing waters give a good hydromassage to weary bodies.
For those of us who dared to do the death-defying stunt, the spectacular view and therapeutic shower was the best way to wrap up the entire adventure.
Here are my tips for a safe, fun and ethical trek to Hindang Falls:
1. Never go without a local as a guide.
2. Have a buddy system and never separate from your group.
3. Wearing of appropriate apparel is a must. Invest in proper trekking footwear. I cannot stress this enough.
4. Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but photos. This is also worth mentioning again and again.
5. Bring proper equipment and wear safety gear. Don’t do what we did.
6. Assess your physical condition and climbing ability before going uphill especially for the third waterfall tier. It is for experienced trekkers and climbers only.
7. Check the weather forecast. Note that rain makes moderately easy treks difficult.
8. Give the guide a generous tip.
A quick shoutout to Manong Nick for being a patient, kind and generous guide. Look for him when in Hindang. He’s awesome!
We actually have a video of our Hindang adventure, check it out!
You can also read about our Hindang Falls Experience from these lovely people:
Bobby Timonera on MINDANEWS
Porsche on THEYANGONE
Yobz on AYOSAOI
It was towards the end of September that our trekking team once again organized an epic adventure somewhere in the hinterlands of Iligan. This time it was in Barangay Hindang where there lies a cave hidden in dense jungles and a less visited three tier waterfall which I will talk about in a different post.
Hindang is a long drive away from the city so we met with fellow adventure seekers before 6 in the morning in front of Shoppe24 Tibanga while Tito Bobby Timonera, barefoot runner extraordinaire and Elijah Dagaerag, experienced mountaineer were already on their way there on foot – that’s 14 kilometers from the highway!
It was about 7 A.M. when Mico Falame, mountain climbing pro arrived in his panoramic van with three of his friends.
Then off we went! We have a footage of the entire ride here.
Barangay Hindang is approximately 20 kilometers away from the city proper and is accessible by both private and public utility vehicles through Barangay Kiwalan and Kabacsanan. Granexport Manufacturing Corporation, simply known as Granex, is the landmark to look for. Should you choose to go there by jeepney or habal-habal, brace yourself for some uncomfortable, bumpy ride. Here is a map for directions on how to get there.
After a scenic hour and a half uphill drive through long winding roads (we got a little lost at some point), we finally made it at the Hindang proper and stopped at a basketball court. Tito Bobby and Elijah were already there waiting for us!
Upon our arrival, we went inside Delatado Store…
signed on their visitor log book, paid a fee of 25 pesos each…
and started walking to Mt. Pagangon (where the cave is located) from there.
The climb to Mt. Pagangon seemed a lot less challenging than our trek in Pugaan albeit it does require more stamina.
As we went uphill…
we passed through a grassy field…
a bamboo forest…
and a few streams.
There were a lot of interesting sights and sounds along the way that you only get to see and hear in nature. We all were our jovial selves…
up until this point. With our game faces on, we braved this side of the mountain and slowly made our way up the slope which has a vertical inclination of about 50 to 70 degrees.
Teamwork is essential for any trek to become successful.
And behind every successful trek are sweepers.
Sweepers are on the tail end of the trek and they make sure nothing and no one gets left behind. Elijah, who we fondly call Elai (pictured on the left), and Lope (right) were our designated sweepers for this trek. They are worth commending for their patience and invaluable sacrifice for Yobz the whole team. Salute!
Once we got to the top of Mt. Pagangon, we took a quick break and just enjoyed the view. Sitting beside me is my sister, Anna. 🙂
Our guide, Manong Nick then led us to his humble abode and offered sweet potatoes before proceeding with our trek.
To get to the hidden cave, we had to go down to the other side of the mountain…
through a rough, rocky terrain which finally then leads to…
THE CAVE! It was quietly tucked right in the middle of the jungle covered in moss, low-hanging vines and other wild vegetation. According to my fellow trekkers, the cave was reeking of dank odor like that of sulfur. But the funny thing is I didn’t notice it. I guess growing up near a dump site has desensitized me to most offensive smells.
As my eyes were slowly adjusting to the darkness of the cave, I felt the damp air cool my body.
Going inside the cave was one slippery journey. Caution should be exercised especially since some rocks may shift when stepped on.
When we entered the first chamber, I was surprised to find it spacious inside with its ceiling reaching to about 30 feet in height. The cave floor was soft and huge stalactites decorate its roof.
Unfortunately, some of the cave walls were not spared from the acts of boorish visitors. I hope locals would be taught to preserve the natural beauty of this cave and penalize anyone who vandalizes the cave. Nothing should be left but footprints and nothing should be taken but pictures.
To go to the next chambers, one must stoop down and duck walk through a narrow opening.
Compared to the first chamber, we felt a little cramped inside here. No light passes through at this point and several bats clung on the ceiling of the cave. But as soon as our lights flashed upon them, they woke from their sleep and swooped down towards us as a greeting. To climb up to the entrance of the next chamber, we carefully trudged through a blanket of thick mud. But it was only later on that we realized that it was actually inches and inches of bat dung and urine that accumulated throughout the ages when we touched the slimy cave walls.
We weren’t able to fully explore the cave though as we didn’t have enough time to do so. But this adventure was filled with fun and amazement.
Here are my tips for trekking to Mt. Pagangon and spelunking in Hindang Cave:
1. Bring lots of water and enough food.
2. Wear appropriate clothing. Rash guards are highly recommended as well as leggings and proper trekking footwear.
3. Wear a cap or bring an umbrella. You don’t want bat excretions landing on top of your head.
4. Bring wet wipes and rubbing alcohol to avoid possible infections caused by bat droppings.
5. Bring a flashlight.
Some photos belong to Yobz Tolentino, Porsche Carreon, Jeffrey Wong, and Bobby Timonera.
Pugaan is a place that is all too familiar to me, yet vague and unrecognizable at the same time. It has probably been about two long decades since the last time I went there.
Having spent a chunk of my childhood somewhere in the hinterlands of Pugaan, I felt a strong sense of nostalgia as my friends and I met up 7 in the morning at Pugaan Gym, the starting point of our trek. Tito Bobby Timonera, a photojournalist and barefoot runner together with Mico Falame, an experienced climber were our human compasses for this challenging trek.
We started our trek by walking about 3 kilometers uphill then we took a turn right and went straight through a cornfield.
Shortly after passing through a few streams, we saw a chute waterfall with a cavity beneath.
After that short photo op, we went back through the cornfield again…
…but thence took a different route.
Here’s another waterfall and it’s a cutey!
Right beside it is a hollow opening with more than enough space to fit me inside.
By the way, I highly recommend wearing a rash guard during treks to avoid sunburn and, well, rashes caused in contact with certain plants.
Wearing of appropriate footwear is a must to avoid slipping on wet surfaces.
Another find is a horsetail waterfall with a concealed passageway leading up to a grass field. Although there is an easier route, we just had to go through it because… bragging rights. 😉
As I was firmly gripping my hands on the cold, wet rocks and slowly inching my way up, I had flashbacks of my climbing drills back in college. I never thought I’d be able to put those skills I learned during PE class into good use. Glad to be wrong.
Brows still on fleek after the climb. YAS.
Aside from walking, there was a lot of climbing…
ninjutsu…
and rappelling (another skill I learned back in college) involved during this trek.
We’ve seen so many falls, many of them unnamed, that we have lost count after the 20th waterfall.
Me sitting atop of a waterfall because I live dangerously like that.
Called the Secret Falls, this waterfall is neatly tucked behind some shrubbery.
It has a pool that is deep enough for jumping and diving.
Posing for a photo with Porsche, a fellow blogger from Iligan, before climbing a waterfall. Yes, you read that right!
And just before I reached the top of the waterfall, I slipped and literally held on for my dear life as I was slowly falling down. Yobz, who was probably 5 feet away from Porsche, suddenly found his way up the waterfall to keep me from falling any further. How he managed to do that is still one of the biggest mysteries in the planet.
This was him after his adrenaline rush. Probably the funniest thing that happened during the trek. Poor Yobbie Bear. Haha!
According to Tito Bobby, this rock face was once a waterfall and we were supposed to climb over it. But since the waterfall dried up due to El Niño, we took a different route.
As we headed our way back to Pugaan Gym, we passed by a small vegetable farm…
and this big tree (behind us is Mount Agad-agad).
On our last few kilometers, we stopped by a small store for a quick break and it was there when we realized that we wanted to walk no more. So we hired two habal-habaldrivers(motorcycle taxis if you will) and divided into two groups of four. Each group crammed into a motorcycle barely big enough to accommodate everyone including the driver.
Overloading is illegal and dangerous yet a very common occurrence in the Philippines. The ride was fun but the novelty of it started to wear off about 5 minutes in when my back started to hurt. I do not advise anyone to do what we did.
Despite the minor misfortunes, overall, I had a fantastic experience! Pugaan used to be my playground when I was little. But for this adventure, it was my battlefield. So proud to say that I survived the 15-kilometer trek and I did things I never thought I could do. That’s the thing about the impossible… You’ll never know it can be done unless you give it a try.
We have a video! Please check it out after the photo dump 😀
TEAM KATKAT
L to R: Tito Bobby Timonera, Elijah Dagaerag, Jeffrey Wong, Porsche Carreon, Mico Falame, Boknoy, Yobz and me.
Back in May, I was invited by Spruce to attend the 10th annual Make Your Own Havaianas event at SM CDO. For this year, Havaianas went Hawaiian for that fun tropical vibe.
Fun Fact: Havaianas means “Hawaiian” in Portuguese!
Havaianas is a line of flipflops that is famous worldwide for their quality, comfort and style. Revolutionizing the fashion trend in the 90′s, they started to make flipflops in exuberant colors and fun designs.
As a homage to its Hawaiian inspiration, the event kicked off with hula dancers moving to the rhythmic beat of the drums.
And just like everyone else, I waited (im)patiently in line for my turn.
Customizing flipflops is a very simple process. But with endless possibilities, it’s in the choosing that makes it difficult. I absolutely took my time to think about what sole, straps and pins I wanted to go together.
In the end, I decided to get sunny yellow soles and icy blue straps with pineapple and aloha pins for my pair.
The first step in assembling my flipflops was fastening my pins of choice onto the straps.
The next and final step was attaching the straps to the soles.
Finally, when it’s all done, this is how my flipflops look next to my boyfriend’s pair.
You can get your own pair of Havaianas at Spruce Iligan. They are located on the second floor of PYB Residence Building, corner Zamora and Lluch Streets.
Bandoja, formerly known as Lupa-an, is a barangay in Tibiao rich in clay reserves. Here are where pots and bricks are made in the province of Antique.
Pottery is both an art and a science. It’s something I’ve always wanted to try and I am lucky enough to have experienced it. It’s actually very technical and entails an arduous process.
For a lump of clay to be molded into a pot, there must be enough water added to make it workable before placing it on the center of a spinning platform called the wheel.
The damp clay is then kneaded and shaped with the turning of the wheel in a steady pace, adding water whenever needed to keep the clay soft and pliable. Using a certain amount of pressure, the middle of the clay should be carefully pressed all the way down to the bottom to form an opening.
Then working it from the inside out, with the constant turning of the wheel, it is shaped to the desired form with its rough sides smoothed. (Hi Sir Alex!)
When it’s done, the clay pot is removed from the wheel by sliding a tightly stretched string through the base of the pot.
Here are our finished pots! Well, sort of.
They first need to be air-dried for a number of weeks till they become bone dry.
Then they will be fired in this thermally insulated chamber called the kiln.
Tada! This is how they look like when they’re done. 🙂
If you wanna do something different and challenging, I highly recommend you try pottery here in Tibiao, Antique. Special thanks to the potters of Tibiao and Sir Alex Española for taking us here!
