Protecting your Mental Health during a Pandemic

Traveling might not be safe, but it is not good to leave vacation days behind either. Millennials associate flying with vacation. But it's important to take time off during the pandemic, experts warn, even if you don't go anywhere.

Experts claim regular breaks from work, especially during a pandemic, are important for mental health. Studies also found that the pandemic has prolonged the normal workday by 48 minutes. "The problem was also addressed by experts at the Society for Human Resource Management, saying: "Now that work is home and home is work, workers can not disengage properly, making it difficult for them to unplug and refresh. There is an array of research on the medical advantages of travel and taking time off from work in general, including lowered fatigue, healthier sleep patterns, and a decreased risk of heart failure. Research suggests that "regardless of where they take it," people do not let travel constraints stop their time off.

Today, we’re sharing some tips on how you can protect your mental health amidst a pandemic:

Maintain a routine - In protecting mental wellbeing, everyday routines may play a significant role. It is advised to either retain current habits or build a new one that should feature: go to sleep and wake up every day at similar hours, exercise daily, set aside unique times to work and rest, eat nutritious, consistent meals, and maintain personal hygiene. Adhering to these variables will improve intent and motivation and boost mood and well-being overall.

Stay Active - It has been found that taking part in daily exercise improves not only physical fitness but also mental health. Research has found the periodic physical exercise in all age levels can alleviate anxiety and depression and to be effective in reducing cognitive impairment due to age.

Keep yourself occupied - Keeping busy is the best way to improve your mental health. If you are self-isolating, learning a new talent by growing your sense of mission and improving self-esteem will be a perfect way to increase your emotional well-being.

Ask for help - It is necessary to inquire for psychiatric support if you have an ongoing mental health problem that has been worsened by COVD-19 or maybe you are experiencing new anxiety or depressive symptoms.

Go on a staycation - Seeking chances to get away right now is extremely necessary, at least away from our normal schedules and the possible stressors of day-to-day life. After all, for the past few months, our homes have been working double or even triple duty as offices, daycare centers, colleges, and gyms.

Locally, you can find healing and relaxation resorts in Davao where you can comfortably take a break and prioritize your mental health. Nature and family resorts in Davao such as Malagos Garden offer healing opportunities for families, friends, and even solo travelers who want to be off the grid for a while. To know more about them, just type in Davao tourist attraction and google and their website will easily come up.

Read More

Why Go for an Intimate Garden Wedding

When organizing a wedding, plenty of prospective brides dream of a large party, hundreds of guests, a lavish ballroom, the larger the better. But this is no longer a norm. More and more couples opt to abandon this pattern and go to romantic, casual weddings that only invite their closest friends and relatives. Why is this style of wedding becoming more and more popular? Well, there are many explanations for this:

Cutting the guest list will mean that the guests you're going to see on your Big Day are really your loving ones. How do you deal with someone you've never met or haven't been in touch with? Smaller celebrations indicate a more intimate environment. You may not feel that yet, but it can help a lot when it comes to your stress level. A lot of prospective married people think a lot about the fight with people they don't meet in particular. Push the burden out and concentrate on you and your emotions.

No amount of decoration can be equivalent to the perfection of nature. It's one of the reasons why many couples today share vows under the canopy of the sky and in the center of a pristine lawn. A wedding garden helps you to take advantage of the elegance that nature has to bring. It's also a casual spot where the visitors are more comfortable.

In general, the wedding in the garden is less costly than weddings held in the church. For one thing, you can relax on the furniture budget because the natural elegance of the scenery is always more than enough. One is the fact that a garden venue is suitable for both the ceremony and the reception, which is also a benefit for your guests. Some sites often feature unique amenities such as a gazebo or a trellis that you would otherwise need to hire for an outdoor wedding.

In fact, there are a lot of wedding resort venues in Davao that offer all the perks of outdoor marriage. If you're looking to get married in the natural scenery, Malagos Wedding Packages will provide you with anything you need. This favorite Davao wedding venue delivers a serene location with inexpensive reception venue packages that give you the best value for your money. Check out more of their wedding packages at malagos.com

Read More

A Buzzing Holiday Season without the Alcohol: Holiday Mocktails to Try this Year

It’s best to celebrate the holidays with a little booze. However, due to the liquor ban, it may be difficult for us to get a hold of our favorite alcoholic drinks. But do not despair! There are still a lot of mocktails to get everyone’s spirits up. This holiday season, experiment with your family and friends with some non-alcoholic cocktails you can enjoy.

1.    Holiday pomegranate mojito

This cocktail drink will surely give you the fizz without the buzz. Perfect to close out the Noche Buena madness!

You’ll need:

-       Mint

-       Lime

-       Pomegranate juice

-       Lemonade

-       Soda

Goes with:

-       Lechon kawali

-       Fried pork chop 

2.    Baby bellini

This toned-down version of a bellini is perfect for Christmas morning, when everyone is still asleep and you’re rummaging through last night’s leftovers.

You’ll need:

-       Peach nectar/juice

-       Sparkling cider/water

Goes with:

-       Spaghetti and meatballs

-       Carbonara 

3.    Sundowner

This sparkling and refreshing drink is perfect to have while eating your holiday dinner. What’s best about this is that it goes with almost anything!

You’ll need:

-       White grape juice

-       Sparkling water

-       Mint

Goes with:

-       Pork humba

-       Kare-kareng gulay

-       Roasted chicken

To make these cocktails, simply gather the ingredients and prepare like you would with any regular cocktail. It’s best to have it over ice to enjoy the experience more. Of course, make sure to pair it with our suggested food choices for you. You can also try other food choices that can complement your chosen holiday mocktail. Rest assured all of them can adjust to almost any kind of holiday food.

If you’re looking for where to order the food choices that you can enjoy with your holiday mocktail, head on over to Xpress Eats, one of the most trusted when it comes to online food and delivery in Davao. When it comes to Davao food delivery, they offer the most scrumptious and best food platter in Davao City. Every order is home-cooked and made with fresh homegrown ingredients. This holiday season, you don’t need alcoholic drinks to feel the buzz and spirit of the season, when you can have these equally refreshing drinks! Enjoy your holiday mocktails with Xpress Eats, giving you the Filipino food you deserve.

Read More

Amazing Plants You Can Find at Malagos

Study shows that being around trees is beneficial for our emotional and social well-being. Although living in nature contributes to improved wellness, imagination, and even compassion, there might be something special about being between trees. 

After all, trees are important to our lives in a variety of ways. The most evident is their role in generating oxygen that we breathe and in sequestering carbon dioxide to help protect our atmosphere, but research shows that trees can have essential benefits. Perhaps the most well-researched advantage of nature exposure is that it appears to help alleviate fatigue, rumination, and anxiety. And all of the testing has been undertaken in the trees.

You might be wondering, where to stay and relax in Davao City that allows me to forest-bathe under a lush canopy of diverse trees? Look no further because Malagos Garden Resort has some of the most sought after species of plants. Check out some of them below:

Traveler’s Palm - While the traveler's palm (Ravenala madagascariensis) has huge fan-like leaves, the name is actually a bit of a misnomer, as the traveler's palms are actually more closely related to banana trees. This exotic plant grows tiny, creamy white flowers, which also occur all year round. Want to learn about growing palm travelers in your garden? You can actually check out some of Malagos Garden Resort’s indoor plants at their sister company’s website Malagos Homegrown Produce. 

Buddha Belly Bamboo - This species is suitable for growing outdoors or as a bonsai or indoor vine. One of its best benefits, though, is its ability to respond to a wide variety of growing conditions. Buddha Belly bamboo was named for the characteristic inclination of the plant to have bulging culms, or to 'belly out.' This plant has to be pressured for water in order to make it belly out. A lot of people have made the art of carefully starving this bamboo in order to produce optimum 'belly' results.

Gian False Agave - Big, spineless, variegated leaves make this a landmark in the landscape. When the plant reaches the age of 10 to 12 years, it will send a flower stalk up to 10 foot long, producing large white flowers. Good for slopes, xeriscapes, and barrels.

This family friendly resort in Davao City has a hundred more species of plants to boast. You can freely enjoy and learn more about them on your next visit at Malagos. For their packages and more info about their landscaping, you can check out their website malagos.com

 

Read More

What Makes an Ecosystem Healthy

In the face of measuring human effects on biodiversity, environmental scientists have failed to identify a balanced ecosystem. The most successful concepts reflect on the properties of the ecosystem—for example, a forest or a wetland—and on what their features would be in the absence of human interaction.

As an example, in the absence of human interference, the overall plant growth in the region might be measured against what could be anticipated, as determined by the environment and soils—the natural potential of the site to grow plants. Even if they feed us, most of the croplands have a lower net carbon absorption than the native areas they substitute, so croplands must be regarded as having suffered some impact. It is not the current level of plant production that counts—rather the change from what might otherwise have been the case.

A stable environment is one that is intact in its physical, chemical, and biological elements and inter-relationships, such that it is resilient to change and stress. It is an environment that does not undergo an excessive growth or loss in native plants, an accumulation of chronic toxins, or dramatic anthropogenic shifts in its ecosystem or ecological processes. A balanced ecosystem consists of natural plant and animal species interacting in equilibrium with each other and non-living things, for example, water and rocks). Good habitats provide a supply of energy, typically the sun. The sun supplies radiant energy for the growth of the producer (plant). Producers transform radiant energy into chemical energy for use by themselves and consumers. Consumers are feeding on producers. Higher-level customers are still consuming other consumers. Split the decomposers Dead plants and wildlife, adding essential nutrients back to the earth. Plants are picking up these nutrients, along with the water, are rooted. Ecosystems have definite borders.

Components of a healthy ecosystem include: 

sunlight (energy source)

living organisms (producers, consumers, decomposers; predator/prey)

non­living things (land forms, water sources, soil, rocks)

dead organisms

natural boundaries (set by the living and non­living things within the area)

Some might think it can be hard to find a healthy and balanced ecosystem nowadays, especially with the current situation that we’re in. But some resort destinations in Davao City prove to be resilient and continue to cultivate a healthy ecosystem for their guests where they can have complete nature therapy. A new Davao birdwatching resort-like Malagos Garden, for example, is leading the way for this. To know more about them, just type “Davao Nature Resort” on google and you’ll easily pull up their website malagos.com.

 

Read More

Have an Excellent WFH Meal Break with Xpress Eats!

If there’s one thing we all look forward to on a busy day of working from home, it’s break time. It’s our chance to finally feel like we truly are at home. We are able to relax, lie down, and catch our breath. Of course, it’s also the time for perfect 100% lutong bahay meals. These days, I stopped cooking my own meals if I’m working from home to save myself the stress. Davao food trays are widely available since food platters and delivery in Davao is booming. My personal favorite is Xpress Eats, which prepares Filipino food I deserve using fresh homegrown ingredients.

Here are some Xpress Eats pick to make lunchtime something to look forward to:

Beef burger patties

I love burger patties because they’re compact and flavorful. Instead of one bought from a fast food, I prefer getting mine from Xpress Eats to make sure I have the nutrients and meaty goodness that I need.

Chicken adobo and boiled egg

Chicken adobo is one of my favorite Filipino recipes. Just the thought of its savory goodness and aroma is enough to make my mouth water. It’s equally filling as well, which makes me energized to take on the rest of my workday.

Bistek Boneless Bangus 

This is a healthier option compared to the original beef steak since it uses bangus belly. I also go for this once a week to give my body a break from all the other kinds of meat. This dish also manages to balance being crunchy and savory, which is the best of both worlds.

All orders come with stir-fried vegetables and a cup of rice, which is perfect to make sure all portions are complete. Simply order like you would in any food delivery app, but what sets Xpress Eats apart is that they have their own dedicated website where you can make your orders. This makes me extra assured that the same people who prepare my food will also be the ones who will take care of the entire delivery process. 

Give yourself a rewarding WFH break by ordering a meal from Xpress Eats today!

Read More

The Benefits of Forest Bathing

We all know how wonderful being in nature can make us feel. For millennia, we've understood it. These aspects give us a feeling of warmth, the sounds of the forest, the smell of the woods, the sunshine playing through the leaves, the fresh clean air. They alleviate our fear and anxiety, encourage us to relax and to think more clearly. Being in nature will revive our mood, renew and rejuvenate us, giving us back our energies and vitality.

In Japan, they engage in an activity that is called forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku. In Japanese, Shinrin means "forest," and yoku means "bath." So, shinrin-yoku means soaking in the environment of the forest, or bringing our senses into the forest. Forest bathing is a chance for individuals to take time off, calm down and contribute to nature. We agree it may be part of the combination of social prescribing operations," the Observer told Stuart Dainton of the Woodland Trust." "Construction is proof of its advantages."

So how does one exactly do it?

Select a spot first. Be sure you've left behind your phone and camera. You can wander aimlessly and painfully. There are no devices you need. Let your guide be your body. Where it needs to lead you, listen. Get your nose followed. And take the time. If you don't get there it doesn't matter. You won't go anywhere. You savour nature's noises, textures and sights and let the forest in.

In the five senses, the secret to unlocking the strength of the forest is. Through your head, eyes, nose, throat, hands and feet, let nature join. Listen to the song of the birds and the wind rustling through the trees' leaves. Look at the trees' numerous greens and the sunshine that passes through the leaves. Smell the woodland smell and inhale the perfect aromatherapy of phytoncides. When you take deep breaths, enjoy the freshness of the air.

When you do these, you’ve found the bridge to happiness. Don’t know where to start? There are plenty of Davao nature and hotel resorts that are a good place to do some forest bathing. Appreciate the art and benefits that come with it as you and your family book a stay in one of Davao’s family friendly resorts like malagos.com. The best thing about doing staycations like this is that you’re taking part and contributing in the quest to save mother earth. Environment friendly hotel resorts in Davao such as Malagos Garden, are one of the top leading resorts to pioneer this activity.

 

Read More

Ordering Food for Work Online? Make Sure to Check These Things Off First

These days in Davao, online food and delivery has become the norm due to the pandemic. For those who are already back to the office, meal breaks are taken care of by Davao food trays delivered to the office. But when it comes to the best Pinoy food and delivery, there are some things we have to consider to say that is a Davao-trusted online food and delivery service. If you are still on the lookout for places to order from, always check if you can trust the service. Here are some things to keep in mind before ordering your food for work online:

1. Safety – Since we are dealing with a pandemic, food safety has to be 110% guaranteed. Not only should the packaging be secure, the delivery process should also comply with all safety protocols to keep everyone COVID-free.

2. Healthy – To make sure everyone’s immune system is boosted, order food that is made with fresh and healthy ingredients. Sure, it may be tempting to have fast food every day, but don’t forget to prioritize your well-being. This way, not only do you have extra protection against the coronavirus, but you also have the proper nutrients to get you through at work.

3. Delicious – Of course, this is one of the most important factors. Without this one, your order won’t be worth your money at all. Go for food orders that are vouched for by others so that you are assured of a tasty and fulfilling meal.

There are a lot of food businesses that are available for online orders and delivery now. What’s even more amazing is that there’s a wide variety of available cuisines and food types: fast food, slow-cooked food, desserts, sweets, drinks, you name it. But always do a basic background check if your choice can guarantee all the three points mentioned above. Whatever your order is, if one point is missing, maybe you’d want to reconsider and go for another option. For a no-fail order, go for Xpress Eats, one of the most credible and trusted food businesses in the city. With their fresh and organic ingredients, lutong bahay preparation, and extra-safe delivery, you are bound to have the best experience when ordering food online!

Read More

Davao’s Best Lutong Bahay Meals: Where to Order Online

With the boom of online ordering and shopping, there are countless options when we search for Davao food trays. Varied cuisines, meals, and other gimmiks bombard us whenever we go online. But sometimes, all we really need is some 100% lutong bahay food delivery, especially if we are swamped with work or live away from our families. Thankfully, some of the best Pinoy food and delivery is already available for online orders. Read on for the list of our most trusted in Davao – home cooked and delivery services:

Boodels Lutong Bahay – They promise “elevated meals”  in the city. Their menu is available via their Facebook page. Delivery is via their partnered services, such as KuyaJuan, GrabFood, and FoodPanda.

Facebook: Boodels Lutong Bahay

Contact Number: (082) 298 7103

Xpress Eats – They offer Filipino food you deserve and homegrown ingredients grown in their own farm. They also have an independent website for you to make your orders and two delivery options: doorstep or curbside.

Website: xpresseatsdavao.com

Facebook: Xpress Eats

Contact Number:  0999 884 8659

Liezel’s Lutong Bahay – This local business specializes in trays and packages for your events and celebrations, like birthdays, weddings, and other occasions. They are available for transaction via their Facebook page and mobile numbers.

Facebook: Liezel’s Lutong Bahay

Contact numbers: 0936 529 5746/0951 573 4483

D’Counter Fastfoods – This beloved restaurant near People’s Park is available for orders made online. At the moment, they do not cater doorstep delivery but you can place advanced orders for pickup at your convenient time. They also announce new items to their menu via their Facebook page.

Facebook: D’Counter Fastfoods

Contact number: 0920 788 9960

Basilio’s Lutong Bahay – This restaurant is always available for orders made through FoodPanda. They specialize in not just Filipino food, but also some trendy food and delicacies.

Facebook: Basilio’s Lutong Bahay

Contact number: n/a

Cucina Severino – This restaurant is still open through their physical store and mall outlets. However, you can also order online via apps like GrabFood. They specialize in packed meals and their pies.

Facebook: Cucina Severino

Contact number: 0999 994 7918

*All contact info is subject to change by the business owners without prior notice.

Read More

Beating the Curfew with Online Supermarkets

When the new city-wide curfew was imposed a few weeks back, we thought of one thing: this can be very challenging. How are we supposed to fit all our daily errands within the time frame that is allotted to us? For those who work from home, this can be less of a problem. But for those of us who are literally in the office between the hours of 8am to 5pm, then we barely have enough time left to make a trip to the grocery, buy all the ingredients we need for dinner in a whole lot of confusing grocery aisles, and have enough allowance to go through a heavily condensed highway all the way home. It’s just not ideal especially in this setting. This perhaps is one of the many reasons we need to try online shopping and reap all the benefits it can give us. Want to know some? Check out the list below!

Avoid the Line and Shop in the Comfort of your Home

Whether fulfilling your weekly shopping list or preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll experience the same crowd every time… none! Grocery shopping online for home delivery allows you the pleasure of shopping from your dining room table, your couch, or your office, without navigating crowded aisles and lengthy cashier lines. That means having significantly reduced risks of exposure.

Avoid Making Multiple Trips

Forget to add an item to your virtual shopping cart? No big deal. With online shopping, you can add items to your cart, even after having made the purchase, up until the day of delivery to your home. That means no more treks back to the store for that single item you forgot.

Browse on Your Time

Whether it’s 2 o’clock in the afternoon or 4 o’clock in the morning, online shopping allows you to browse the aisles when it is most convenient for you. Though you will have to be present when the groceries are delivered, you can choose a delivery time frame that is most convenient for you.

For those of you wondering where to shop online in Davao, you’re guaranteed that freshest farm produce and premium cut meats are delivered by Malagos Homegrown Produce, a trusted online grocery in Davao. Just type “Davao online grocery and delivery” on google and you’ll easily find their website malagoshomegrownproduce.com.

Read More

Introducing Birding to Kids

With patience, concentration, and powers of observation, birding can be a wonderful lifelong hobby that’s not only inexpensive but also fulfilling. If you introduce it to your kids at such a tender age, they can easily develop a deeper connection to the natural world. This activity offers a lot of benefits that you can reap once you get the hang of it. It can also be done in nearly any environment, requiring only a few easy tools to enjoy. The best part? It gets the kids to spend time outdoors. Once kids begin engaging in birding activities, they’ll never see the outdoors the same way again. 

Starting out with your birding activity is not like any outdoor activity. You can start with the little things that you know. A good place to start is to ask your child to write down all the birds that they can already easily identify. The list doesn’t have to belong and you don’t have to force your child to review a whole encyclopedia for this. Now ask them to commit to learning a few new ones each week. With this, you can do your research together and bond as you go online or head to the library to learn which species are endemic to your town or region. It might be handy to have a field guide or ID cards. When you have these resources intact, make a list of the most common species in your area and learn with your child. Start small and once you’ve mastered both male and female species, your list just grows as you go along.

Some of your best birding may be in your own backyard or local park or community garden. It's easiest to learn the birds that live around you as you will see them repeatedly and, as they say, practice makes perfect! To ensure that your child will see birds in your early days of birding, think about making and setting up a window of a backyard bird feeder or transforming your backyard into a Backyard Wildlife Sanctuary. If you put up a feeder, stock it up with the favorite seed blends of local birds and keep it stocked. Getting your local birds hooked on your reliable food source only to forget about the feeder through the winter is irresponsible as some of those birds may not survive as well with the food source suddenly gone.

For a nature resort destination in Davao, you can check out Malagos Garden Resort. One of their newly introduced child-friendly resort activities in Davao is birding inside the resort’s premises! Talk about an innovative Davao tourist attraction. Check them out today at malagos.com for more info.

 

Read More

Healthy Dinner Ideas for the Family

The best meals are definitely those shared with the ones you love. No matter how simple the food that is served on the table is, when you’re enjoying it in the company of your family, friends and loved ones, it definitely tastes better and more meaningful. For healthy and hearty meal ideas that are best enjoyed during dinner, when the entire household is gathered around the table, read on.

Chopsuey - The Filipino chop suey is a great source of multiple vitamins and nutrients including calcium, iron, Vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folic and pantothenic acids. It has an average calorie and fat content and a high carb and protein content. With its high protein contents, chop suey is a great way to get the necessary amounts of protein that your body needs for tissue repair and to make your immune system a lot stronger. Vitamin C in the dish on the other hand protects your body against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular diseases, eye diseases, prenatal health problems and even aging effects like skin wrinkling.

Pakbet - The vegetables that are used for pinakbet are squash, bitter gourd, okra, string beans, and eggplant. Squash is very rich in vitamin A, B6 and C, and other minerals. It also helps strengthen your bones. Bitter gourd is one of the vegetables that most people are hesitant to eat because of its bitter taste, but it is actually very good for our body. It strengthens our immune system and boosts skin health and has some anti-aging properties. Okra, on the other hand, has low calorie and has dietary fiber. Eggplant also helps in lowering blood pressure, contains fiber and potassium. Your string beans have a lot of vitamins and minerals too.

Pizza + Pasta - The average slice of pizza has 12 grams of protein, according to Chelsey Amer, a registered dietitian. Pizza can help you absorb Lycopene, an antioxidant found in brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, that may lower blood pressure rates. Fresh vegetables are one of the healthiest pizza toppings. Besides being delicious, we know that pasta has plenty of health benefits too, like providing folic acid, being cholesterol-free, and sustaining energy. 

For the best healthy meal kits in Davao, order your healthy meal kits and veggie bundles now at malagoshomegrownproduce.com. Simply search for “Davao meal kits” or “Davao veggie bundles” on google and they’ll easily pop up.

Read More

Green Spaces for Your Mental Health

Bodies of water have a lot of health benefits. Bodies such as lakes, rivers, ponds, seas, oceans, and springs have always been considered a source of physical and mental nourishment. These resources do not only provide our basic needs but as well as improvements in our physical and emotional well-being. Living near one can give a very positive effect on our overall disposition.  Take a look at some of the major benefits below to see how water bodies can significantly enhance your lives.

Lowers stress levels - stress can be caused by many things including prolonged isolation, which can in turn develop to bigger health issues. With water bodies, we can effectively cope up with and lower our stress levels. This can be achieved by exercising in water or arranging activities that center around bodies of water like picnics, yoga, walks, and more.

Stimulates and enforces the immune system. Frequently submerging in natural water bodies is a great way to stimulate and reinforce our immune system. Bacterias grow freely in natural water bodies, and although it may seem like they pose a threat, they actually help your immune system. Constant exposure to chemicals such as chlorine, hormones, and pesticides found in our food tends to hinder our immune system. Exposing ourselves to weak bacteria serves our immune system as a simulation and can help raise antibody count.

Releases endorphins. Water bodies are known to increase our endorphin levels. Carrying out a physical activity near water can significantly improve our endorphin count. These chemicals are important because they help reduce pain and give a feeling of euphoria. With which, we can fight off depression, anxiety, and improve our sleeping patterns, stabilize our blood pressure, and enhance the workings of our immune system.

Water is known as the elixir of life. It contributes a lot not only to our physical health but also to our mental state. If you have the chance, it’s best to visit resorts in Davao with natural elements such as green spaces and water bodies after being exposed to a lot of stressors brought about by the pandemic. Davao’s best resort, Malagos Garden, has a lot of water bodies that are ideal for your mental health. For a complete list of what to expect in Malagos Garden Resort as they reopen soon, check out malagos.com.

Read More

Stand Up Paddle Board Mistakes Every Beginner Tends to Make

 

“Stand-up paddleboarding, also known for the acronym SUP, is one of the fastest growing boardsports in the world. SUP is a subclass of paddleboarding, a broader concept that also includes the use of arms while kneeling, lying or standing on a narrow and long paddleboard to move around in the water. Paddleboarding has its roots in Africa, South America, and the ancient Polynesian culture. Historians believe that wooden paddleboards were used by 16th-century natives to move from one place to another, and also to catch waves for fun.Tom Blake is the pioneer of modern paddleboard construction. In the 1920s, the American helped restore old Hawaiian boards; a decade later, Blake was already building hollow boards with half the weight of the historical models.”

 

Though this sport has gained popularity worldwide, it might seem really tough especially for people who don’t have a great sense of balance. Today, we will go over the top 10 Stand Up Paddle Board beginner mistakes you need to be wary of.

 

1. Holding the paddle backwards and hands too close together
2. Using only the tip of the blade and not reaching forward
3. Holding paddle diagonally and too far away from board
4. Falling onto the board instead of into the water
5. Kicking under the board when trying to get back on
6. Looking down instead of forward
7. Drifting with the wind and not controlling the direction
8. Not centering weight on board
9. Going out in dangerous conditions and/or with the wrong gear
10. Not wearing a leash

 

No matter which level you are in on your SUP skills, you always want to keep safety first! Make sure you’re aware of the environmental factors and weather conditions before you roll in. Also check if winds are set to shift during the time you’ll be in the water. Always remember that the best conditions for beginners are calm flat days with low wind. But be alert because weather conditions can always change instantly. When you set out, pay attention to where you want to jump off from and take out your board. It’s also highly important to speak to a lifeguard or guide and let them teach you the basics first before heading off on your own. Last but not the least, be sure to wear a life vest when you’re on the water as well.

 

For the best tourist destination in Davao that offers safe SUP packages, check out this new resort in Governor Generoso called Camp Bernardino de Lavigan. This newest of davao oriental’s beach resorts offer a range of safe and exciting water activities perfect for all ages. Check them out today at campbernardino.com

 

Read More

Halloween by the Beach

It’s one of the most awaited holidays of the year, and most of us really prepare for the costumes and activities that we’ll be doing during this event. Since time immemorial, we’ve always been super excited to celebrate Halloween in our unique ways. But what is really the essence of this holiday and since when did the festivities begin?

 

“Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31, and Halloween 2020 will occur on Saturday, October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the eighth century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.”

 

Dating back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, the Celts who lived over 2,000 years agao in the area that is now Ireland, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of harvest and the beginning of dark, cold winter. Winter is often associated to human death, and Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. That’s why the celebrated the Samhain on the night of October 31, when ghosts were believed to return to the earth. Although this holiday has a strong western origin, we Filipinos have come to adapt to this festivity due to the western influences that we got from the colonization periods of Spain and USA. Over the years, we’ve developed the tradition of doing trick or treats and other scare fairs as well to observe this thrilling night. 

 

And although our celebrations this year might be quite different from before, there are still certain places where Davaoenos chose to observe this special day. One halloween event in Davao Oriental was hosted by Governor Generoso’s newest beach resort called Camp Bernardino de Lavigan. Their promo, Camp and Cauldrons, which included low buffet price rates and 3+1 for beer, was actually a success. If you missed this promo, no worries because this Davao Oriental Beach only has it starting. Check them out at campbernardino.com for more promos and updates!

Read More

Around the World Through Food: The Top 3 Most Popular Types of Food Globally

 

All over the world, there are lots of diverse cuisines and tastes. However, at the heart of it all, there are similar flavors and textures that we all enjoy, no matter our background and culture. From a recent study, they found that there are around 10 types of food that each nationality loves and agrees on. The good news is that 3 of them are beloved by Filipinos as well. 

Rice - No Filipino can go a week without consuming rice, or at least most Filipinos can’t. It’s a staple food in our country, to the point where we have come up with terms and portions like “double rice,” “extra rice,” and “half rice.” Of course, we share the love with the rest of Asia. However, in recent years, rice has grown in popularity in many Western countries as well.

Marinated Meat - Marinated meat is one of the ways to ensure a flavorful meat. The type of marinade varies per country or region, with Asia preferring more tangy or spicy flavors. Many of our beloved Filipino dishes, like adobo, are prepared by marinating it first. Other samples of dishes with marinated meat are steak and Korean grilled meat recipes.

Pasta - This is considered a second love of the Philippines, next to rice. Most of us grew up with fond memories of spaghetti during birthdays and other occasions. Now, more and more types of pasta are gaining traction in the country. There are lots of fans of carbonara, pesto, and other tomato-based pasta. Not to mention, there are countless ways to mix and match pasta types and sauces.

If you are searching where to order yummy food in Davao City, you don’t have to look further or even go outside. The top three most eaten types of food in the world are widely available through Davao online food delivery, such as Xpress Eats. They are a service that offers Davao party tray and food delivery through their own website. Their menu is always being updated and their ingredients are all fresh and homegrown. This means each order isn’t your run-off-the-mill prepared food. Instead, it is home-cooked and packed safely and conveniently. Delivery is also done straight to your doorstep, or you can also opt for curbside pickup. What are you waiting for? Head to their website and have yourself a delicious meal that is loved by the whole world.

Read More

Best Plants for Moms

Christmas is around the corner and you know what that means - christmas shopping! Around this time last year you were already probably to busy figuring out what gifts to give your loved ones, which ones would suit their taste, and which ones are practical. Expert tip: you don’t need to overthink it! Just a simple letter will do. What’s important is the thought that comes with the act of giving. PResents don’t have to be extravagant that could hurt your bank account. They only need to be as significant to you as it is for the recipient. One great gift idea for this season is plants. And who could be the better recipient for this other than the most important person in our lives? Our moms. Check out some of the best plant gift ideas below for every mom out there:

Aglaonema - if your mom already loves gardening, then a quick “i love you mom” note attached to this pretty plant is one of the best gifts to get you started. By watering this plant every day, she’ll definitely feel more relaxed and happy as she sees the leaves turn pinker as it ages.

Syngonium - exuding class and elegance, give your mom the best gift she could wish for with this plant. Syngonium Plants have a high transpiration rate which is why they help with increasing humidity within a room. It is also known as the Arrow Head Plant owing to its interesting arrow-shaped leaves. It is believed that this plant helps in reducing stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

Rosemary - If your mom loves cooking, then rosemary is a perfect present for this special occasion, to give her something to get her started with her herb garden. Remember how her homemade soup helped you that time you were sick? Make her feel appreciated by showing her that you remember the key ingredient to her special recipe.

Eugenia - try making your lawn a little more colorful and lush with this plant. Your mom will surely fall in love with it straight away! Eugenia is a glossy leaved shrub or tree, which is often used as a hedge or privacy barrier. It makes an excellent potted plant or you can prune it severely and use it as a low border in formal garden settings.

Moonlight - to add accents to your home, show your mom your adulting capabilities by giving her this exquisite indoor plant. A fantastically bright, almost fluorescent green philodendron with a low clumping growth habit. A great colour contrast plant for shady spots in the garden. Best in positions where there is no direct sun. 

To get the best of davao online plants, you can buy plants online and expect delivery to your house at Malagos Homegrown Produce. No need to shop physically and get stressed out. Just type online grocery store near me, and their website will easily come up.

Read More

The State of Face to Face Meetings Now in the Middle of a Pandemic

It’s almost been a year since the COVID-19 made its presence known to the world. Even after several months, its effects are still raging and will seem to last for a long time. Still, everyone is trying to get back on their feet. For businesses and companies, which are most people’s source of livelihood, things have somehow gotten better compared to the earlier months. While there are still strict protocols to follow, business is back to almost-normal. Most meetings are done online, but sometimes in-person meetings are still necessary. 

Now, when we plan face to face meetings, there are many things we have to be careful of:

• Health protocols - Since this is a company event, the management should always take extra steps to protect their employees’ health and safety. Meetings should not involve more than 10 people at a time, everyone has to follow social distancing and wear their masks at all times.
• Venue and schedule - With the city enforcing a curfew, in-person meetings should be set early in the day and everyone should be informed when and where it will be held in advance so they can plan their days ahead.
• Food handling - Of course, food is an important part of any event. To ensure that no contamination will happen, opt for contactless delivery when you are choosing your caterer Also, having individual packed meals may be the best to prevent any unwanted contact among people.

When availing of online food and delivery services, make sure that your chosen provider will give not just the best-tasting food, but also the safest preparation, packing, and delivery. Try Xpress Eats when checking out places to get the best food party platter in Davao. Of all food services in Davao, party tray and food delivery from Xpress Eats is guaranteed 100% safe from start to finish. With them, your in-person meetings will definitely feel more fun and complete. When planning or preparing for your next face to face meetings, keep all health protocols in mind to make sure everyone in the company is safe and ready to tackle all tasks ahead.

Read More

How to Make Your Plants Survive the Rainy Days

 

Plants may love a good rainfall after the warmer and dryer months of the year. They appreciate a healthy refreshment, heavy rains accompanied by strong winds can be harmful. They can potentially ruin the hard work you’ve put into your gardenscapes. Today, we’ve rounded up some tips on how your plants can survive before, during and after the rainy days. Check them out below:

Before

1. Remove damaged shoots and limbs - remove them from your plants to make them as streamline as possible and reduce the risks of snapping. 
2. Support taller plants - since heavy rain can affect taller plants more, and make them less secure through their paces, you need to make sure that enough support is given. Push a wooden or metal support into the ground and gently tie the plant to it to prevent it from snapping.

During

1. Cover the most delicate plant varieties - use waterproof covering like tarpaulin to protect the young and fragile plants. If the rain is hard and persistent, make sure the covering is slanted in the correct direction to ensure enough drainage away from the surrounding foliage.
2. Turn your compost - make the entirety of your rich compost watered by mixing the damp with the dry under layers.

After

1. Check the roots - once the rain is over, make sure there are no exposed roots following the erosion. Recover them with soil or compost before they dry out.
2. Check the pots and planters - they can easily become flooded if the drainage is compromised. Check them before, during, and after the rain is over if you must!
3. Keep the slugs and snails at bay - moist conditions are where these animals thrive. Remember that in general, gardens love rain. In fact, a few perennial plants might flourish in moist soil conditions. So you must…
4. Pull up the weeds by hand - the moist soil means you are much more likely to retrieve the whole root without it snapping and breaking.

For the best Davao plants for sale that are ideal for any weather condition here in the country, you can check out Davao online grocery store, Malagos Homegrown Produce. They are easily the answer to the question of where to buy plants online because they have lots of varieties from herb to ornamental which are perfect for every household. Check them out at malagoshomegrownproduce.com now.

Read More

How to Make the Most out of Your Staycation

Travelling can drain you, honestly. All those planning and bookings and catching flights - they can be exhausting too. And more often than not, you end up needing a vacation to recover from your vacation. You know what we mean, right? Anyway, it’s easy to forget all about the preparation and planning when you get too caught up with all the excitement that a new place can provide, and when you think about all the photos you’ll be sharing on social media about your dream vacation. Not to mention how just one trip can hurt your bank account and energy levels. Contrary to what the exotic travel pictures imply, to achieve optimum refreshment some vacations may best be spent close to home. Consider an official staycation to explore things locally for a fraction of the cost and energy expended. Uncover some of the gems in your own town or take the time to finally catch up on some much-needed rest.

Consider buying an annual membership to a local museum, park, etc. and start using it immediately. This is the type of investment that will outlast the initial week of vacation, giving you and your family the opportunity to do fun things all year long.

Reconnect with your family, friends, or community by spending more time with them than your usual schedule allows. Share in a good meal, participate in recreational activities, or volunteer to do something for their benefit that is also life-giving to you.

Try out new activities that are not familiar to you. Have you tried picking vegetables from a legit vast expanse of vegetable farm? Ever tried sitting it out in one corner to get unexpected sightings of some bird species? Engaging in totally new activities that are out of your comfort zone can be a refreshing way to spice up your staycation.

Play games with the family. Other than just drinking and chilling, you can bring with you a couple of board games to get the fun started especially at night when there’s nothing else to do, really. Consider preparing small prizes and consequences to make things more competitive!

For the best resort in Davao where you can do all these things, check out Davao's best tourist destination, Malagos Garden Resort. Just type where to staycation in Davao on google and you’ll easily find their website malagos.com.

Read More

Staycation and New Normal

Over the last 10 months or so, we saw how the travel industry has suffered on a global scale from the impacts of the covid 19 pandemic. But following lockdowns after lockdowns, travelers all over the world are feeling a much higher degree of wanderlust and are now looking to book holidays once the crisis eases up. The difference now is - now they’re looking for places to travel to which are much closer to home.

“Data from Sojern, a company that helps travel firms understand what people around the world are searching for online, has noted a rise in inquiries for holidays in travelers' own countries as international searches have dropped off.” Now as lockdowns are gradually lifted and we can leave the house for more than an hour at a time, escaping this cabin fever has become more important than ever. One of the most efficient ways that the travel industry has seen to embrace this newfound freedom is through staycations. Coupled with new rules on how foreign travel will move forward and the threat of localized lockdowns, the popularity of staycation is something that we need to see through, encapsulating a make-do attitude, which we think, could really make us appreciate more the resources that we have locally. 

“The term staycation is loosely defined, involving either a holiday in your own country or a holiday in which you stay at home and venture out for day trips. However, beyond its definition, the emphasis placed on valuing what we have around is perhaps more important than we may realize.” Leaving the house now and taking staycation trips to local areas is also an effective alternative budget-wise considering the fact that the economic conditions worldwide are in a whirlwind. Perhaps being trapped in the house for too long has garnered these travel-hungry people a dormant love for whatever is available in their hometowns.

Locally, we have a handful of places to relax in Davao. There’s Malagos Garden Resort, which is planning to open their doors for guests again soon. Staycation in Davao might be something new to your travel plans, but considering the situation, you might wanna make do with these worthy Davao tourist attractions first. Check out malagos.com for more updates.

Read More

Why Spend Christmas at the Beach

Welcome to the penultimate chapter of the year. Around this time last year, you were already probably too busy doing some holiday shopping, or booking your travel plans in time for Christmas. Some might even be on break already during this time, taking that much deserved leave from work or school to relax and unwind with their loved ones. While others were busy decorating their homes, schools and offices with the most colorful and vibrant decors to really feel the spirit of Christmas kicking in.

 

In a matter of 10 months, the world has seen so much change - most might be in a not so good way. And in a short span of time, we all witnessed how our lives drastically change because of this pandemic. Where are we now and what has really become of us? We lost more than a million chunk of the population to this enemy, but still we fight on. And now, during the most wonderful time of the year (or is it still?), why not choose to spend it with the ones you love, amidst the bounty of nature? It’s such an opportune way to reflect on everything that has happened and think about what is best for everyone during this time. Go on, pack your bags, sleep under the stars and read the reasons below why you should spend Christmas this year at the beach:

 

It makes you reconnect with nature. When you’re at the beach, you instantly feel one with the earth while you watch panoramic views of sunrises and sunsets, and listen to the waves softly crashing against the shore as you feel the cool amihan breeze on your sunkissed skin.

It gives the family enough space to roam around and enjoy. If you’re a big family with kids, being at the beach during this time means a bigger space for everyone to play in. With a lot of water activities and games to choose from, being on the beach is definitely an enjoyable way to celebrate this time.

It gives you clarity of mind. Less crowd and abundant nature means your mind instantly feels relaxed and at ease. Spending this holiday break at the beach is beneficial not only for your physical body but for your mental well-being too!

 

If you’re wondering where to celebrate Christmas this year that is both safe and relaxing, you can check out the best resort in Davao Oriental called Camp Bernardino. This new beach destination in davao is perfect for the holidays with the fam. Check them out today at campbernardino.com.

Read More