A Time for Virtual Christmas Celebrations

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered many facets of everyday life, and researchers suggest that people should also expect their Christmas parties to change their workplaces this year with many businesses switching to online events or outdoor meetings.  Though some people can feel "Zoomed out," businesses have organized simulated office parties that can still be enjoyable and separate from past online get-togethers.

Between the increase of remote jobs, budget cuts, and the fear of the lockdown being prolonged, Christmas parties' work in the conventional sense is unlikely to take place this year. Fortunately, there are a variety of options to get away from the highlight of the career social calendar in the cyber world instead. From festive bakery, craft classes, and immersive escape-room gaming to wine tasting, karaoke, and comedy nights, here's how to make your virtual Christmas party unforgettable for all the right reasons.

It is critical that the event is personalized to the business when organizing a virtual holiday party. Senior employees should be interested in capturing video messages looking back at the organization's past year or reveal some company awards during the function. It is also important to note to retain some aspects of a conventional, in-person working group, but to adapt them for an online audience. This includes a wireless photo booth, a dress code, and a drop-in party favors to employees' homes either before or after the event. While some businesses may feel restricted to what they can have for an online gathering, there are lots of entertainment options to ensure that a simulated experience is not dull, such as recruiting a magician, comedian, or musician to perform during the stream.

Depending on the province or jurisdiction of where you are based, some will even be able to get together for an in-person holiday party in certain settings. For the best outdoor hotel resort in Davao, or a resort with a swimming pool where you and your colleagues can gather for one last time this year, you can check out holiday offers at malagos.com. Davao’s best resort provides you with safe, sustainable, and healing experiences that will ensure a different Christmas party that’s one for the books.

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Key Takeaways from First Time Staycationers

Originally from the United States, the word staycation is a neologism originating from the contraction of 'stay' and 'vacation.' According to the Cambridge Dictionary, rather than going to another location, it means holidays that you take at home or near your home. Staycation is not though, a holiday model for learners or low-budget tourists.  Rather a staycation is an ecological way to enjoy your holidays near your house. It is synonymous with reduced congestion, saving money, and not adding to the sheer confusion that exists in some of the most touristic parts of the country. Let's look a little closer. 

Staycation seems to be a perfect solution to the above-mentioned problems. It is an ideal way to enjoy happy holidays while helping one's wallet and the community. In fact, staying close to home reduces the budget for lodging (15% of the average holiday household budget) and transport. So without further ado, here are the top 3 key takeaways from first-time staycationers:

Staycation reduces the burden of arranging a trip: from seeking hotels to planning numerous suitcases loaded with clothes that are not even worn enough times; 

This makes it easier to do things that you cannot do during the year because of a busy schedule, such as visiting the permanent museum collections, taking advantage of the good weather to (finally) practice some sports in the local parks;

The local economy is also highly promoted by staycations. You should take advantage of the holidays to take a tour of the local markets, go to the farm to collect fruit and vegetables, take part in seasonal sports or creative classes, or even spend a night in an unusual hotel nearby.

With the many benefits of local travel, you no longer have a reason to be embarrassed when you're asked where you're going on holiday this year.  On the opposite, not going to the other corner of the planet like anyone else to "visit" the unstable beaches, but instead exploring the area is an eco-friendly and economical option you should be proud of. Lucky for us, there are a handful of staycation resorts in Davao City. Ranging from honeymoon destinations, a solo traveler’s paradise, to family and nature resorts, in Davao, you can choose from a wide range of options.

When looking for the best staycation destination in Davao City, you might want to consider Malagos Garden Resort. Check them out today at malagos.com

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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

 

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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.

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Barkada Trip to Remember

After months of being stuck in quarantine, not seeing your friends for a long time and just binge watching some netflix series or K-drama, we all deserve the break that we need in the safest possible way. Here in Davao, we’re lucky enough to have a government that does its best to take care of its people. There are numerous protocols, guidelines, restrictions and other things being implemented just to make sure that we contain the virus and continue to flatten the curve. As citizens, it’s our responsibility to abide and comply with all the requirements. So if you feel like you need that break and have been dying to see your friends and catch up, you can always do so as long as you follow these protocols. Make sure you travel safe and are responsible enough to not cause any more trouble for the government and frontliners. Although we’re not really at the end of the line as far as this crisis is concerned, we can still continue with our new normal lives with proper safety measures. 

For Davao residents, you don’t need to go very far if you’re dying for a vacation. There’s a newly opened resort in Davao Oriental that offers a lot of activities that the entire barkada will surely enjoy. Camp Bernardino de Lavigan at Governor Generoso is indeed, the place to be!

Kayaking - a favorite leisure activity of all barkada, enjoy this water activity in the resort and ride through the pristine waters of Davao Gulf

Chill and Catch Up - the resort’s bar is facing the beach directly that offers a majestic view of sunset. It’s perfect for that months’ worth of catching up while you toast to the resort’s signature drinks.

Bonfire - also a fun and unique way to just chill and enjoy the night skies, make your bonding moments cozier with this intimate activity

Snorkeling and Diving - enjoy the colorful views of corals and big fishes that are abundant in the area. Take lots of photos with the barkada and achieve that IG Feed Goals you’ve always dreamed of.

Spa - after a day of fun filled activities, best to end it with therapies that will heal the body and mind. The resort has services that mix both traditional and modern hilot practices perfect to recharge the entire gang.

If you’re looking for Davao beach resorts for family and friends, check out campbernardino.com, It’s Davao Oriental’s best beach resort and one of the Davao region resort list perfect form that barkada trip you surely won’t forget!

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Why I’m An Avid Fan of Malagos

One might go and argue that my generation is killing industries because of our buying behavior, but I really believe us millennials are one of the most responsible consumers out there. We don’t just consume mindlessly any products that are presented to us. We are more conscious of not just the end product but also the process that comes along with it. I’m an avid Malagos fan, to be honest and it’s because of their genuine love and respect for nature. Here are some of the eco-warrior initiatives they have imposed even before “eco-warriors” and “single-use plastic bans” were a thing:

Sustainable farming. While other farms were focused on turning their crops into the most profitable milking cow it can be in the shortest amount of time possible, the family behind the Malagos brand focused on providing food for families without destroying the land that’s providing them with bountiful harvests. While most were drowning their plants with synthetic fertilizers, weed killers, and other chemical-based solutions for yielding bigger and more fruits, Malagos kept it simple and have used natural means and ways of growing their crops. Now their soil is still in good condition and will probably last more than soils from big agricultural exporters who just now shifted to more natural ways and means of farming in the effort to save their hectares of disease-stricken soils.

Wildlife preservation. The family-focused not just on preserving soils and supporting local farmers, but also on ensuring native species of both floras and faunas live on for the future generation to see. It is also the matriarch of the family behind Malagos that is pushing for the native to Mindanao Waling-Waling or Vanda Sanderiana to replace the current national flower Sampaguita—a flora that isn’t even a native flower in the Philippines.

Edutainment. The Malagos Bird Show for example that has been running for more than 20 years in the hope to educate the children about preserving culture and the dangers of climate change, uses its rehabilitated and rescued birds. They also feature seminars as well as indoor and outdoor museums that aim to educate people through entertainment the eco-advocacies they have been fighting and continue to fight for until now.

One might think of Malagos as the makers of international award-winning chocolates or the best resort in Davao City. However, Malagos is more than their products. They’ve been pushing to “support your local farmer” and “buy local, eat local” movements before it was a niche marketing strategy. They were doing the farm to table- support local farmers movement before it was a big deal. That’s why from Malagos Garden Resort and even shifting to Malagos Homegrown Produce, an online grocery store during this pandemic, I support them all the way and continue to do so. You can do the same by checking out their website. It’s definitely worth checking out especially from some authentic Davao Kadayawan 2020 experience at home.

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