5 Tips to Boost Your Immunity During the Holidays

The cold morning breeze, the Christmas carols, the sparkling and colorful lights at night remind us that the most awaited season of the year is here. The season of sharing and giving has finally arrived!

Christmas is a very joyful season, a celebration we all look forward to. Personally, Christmas is about making up for lost time with friends and loved-ones. To others, Christmas means giving and completing items from their Christmas wishlists. While others associate Christmas as an opportunity to relax and unwind from heavy work demands. 

Blissful and festive as it is, the so-called holiday rush can be stressful. Attending parties, reunions and merry-makings here and there is exhilarating but can be tiring. Many people in popular establishments mean crowded places and heavy traffic; which adds to the normal holiday traffic because of shopping mall sales and extended mall hours. Making your way through the crowd just to find that perfect gift can be exhausting. Brainstorming for your Christmas gift list can be draining and completing your noche buena items can cause increased stress levels because of long lines at groceries and department stores.

Increased stress levels weaken our immune system and make us more susceptible to illnesses. While they say that stress is inevitable, there are some ways to keep our bodies strong and healthy this season:

1) Begin the day with a positive mindset.

As the old cliche says, mind over matter; our brain is very powerful that whatever it conceives, there's a big chance it will happen. Say you wake up and think of how bad this day is because of the deadlines you have to meet, most probably, you will really end up having one.

Waking up to a new day is one of the best blessings to be thankful for. How lucky are we to be given another day to enjoy, learn and make a new start. So why destroy a brand new day with a negative thought in mind? We all have our fair share of struggles so never let them affect your day and life. Remember that there's a solution to every problem and every time you think of stressful things, you are not just ruining your day but you are also harming your health. So the moment you wake up, be thankful and think of positive thoughts to attract them.

Sta. Ana, Cagayan: Of Long Road Trips, Rough Sails and Sun Kisses

Howdy! I'm back from my hiatus and for my comeback, I am sharing my adventures in the beautiful region of Cagayan Valley. Let's kick off with our second day in Sta. Ana. *insert drum roll here*

The town of Sta. Ana in Cagayan lies in the north-easternmost part of the Philippines that can be reached via 15-16 hours land travel (in our case, we traveled for almost 24 hours). We began to explore its beauty early morning of Day 2. After breakfast, we went to San Vicente Port. Since we already had our briefing the day before, we just accomplished the passenger's manifest. If you were unable to bring your lunch like us, you can order at the PASAMOBA Office and they would have it ready for you at Punta Verde. And now, let the adventure begin... Warning: Another picture-heavy post. 

Dos Hermanas Island as seen from Cape Engaño Lighthouse

San Vicente Port

We availed of the Special Trip tour worth 3,500 pesos, which took us to Anguib Beach, Cape Engaño Lighthouse, Punta Verde (falls) and Crocodile Island.

Dubbed as the Boracay of the North because of its fine white sand and crystal clear waters, Anguib (pronounced as A-ngib) Beach is the first in our itinerary. This is a favorite destination and a must in your Sta. Ana bucket list. But unlike Boracay, it's unspoiled, pristine and without the madding crowd. Cottages are the only establishments here, rental costs 500 pesos.

Crystal clear waters and powdery white sand

Entrance fee in Anguib Beach costs 100 pesos per person, but we were also told during briefing that there is another entrance which costs 20 pesos per guest but the sand is not as fine and powdery compared to the other. We decided to pay 100 pesos for the complete Anguib experience but we did not rent a cottage because we did not intend to stay for so long. 

Welcome to Anguib!

Baler's Historical Heritage

Before we head home, we visited the historical sites of Baler. Our first stop is the house of Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon.

This house depicts that of the traditional Filipino style home, the kind made of wood and has a silong. Furnishings are also made of wood. Inside the house are some memorabilias owned by Dona Aurora.

Through the years, this house underwent series of repairs and revisions after it was burned during the Spanish regime. This version of the house, they say, is the closest to the original. Refresh your memory with these facts about Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon: 

• She is the wife of former president and the first president of the Commonwealth Republic, Manuel L. Quezon. 
• She's a native of Baler, Tayabas (presently Aurora province).
• She was ambushed together with her daughter Ma. Aurora "Baby" on April 28, 1949.
• The province of Aurora was named in her honor.

Dona Aurora and Pres. Manuel Quezon

Historical milestone of Baler and native Filipiniana and barong

Beautiful Baler

Baler is the provincial capital of Aurora. Known for its beautiful waves, it is one of the surfing capitals of the Philippines. It also boasts of its beautiful landscapes and historical spots making it a one-stop tourist destination.

Energize with this beautiful sunrise at Sabang Beach.

Dicasalarin Cove

Dicasalarin Cove is located at Brgy. Zabali, a 15 minute ride from the town proper. This place is a secret waiting to be unfold. Even from afar the scenery was very pleasing and enticing. Apart from swimming in the beach, you can climb the lighthouse on top of a cliff or visit the Longhouse. To know more about Dicasalarin, read the separate post here. 

Diguisit Falls

Diguisit Falls is a three-tiered waterfall situated along the road. It is opposite to Diguisit Beach and the rock formations (islets) which I missed, unfortunately. Water can be so cold because it streams down from the mountain. If you want to get the most of the Diguisit experience, you need to climb the topmost part, just be careful because the soil and rocks can be very slippery.

Ditumabo Falls: Aurora's Finest

We began our afternoon tour by trekking (again) to Ditumabo Falls more popularly known as Mother Falls in Brgy. Ditumabo, San Luis, Aurora. Standing at approximately 140 feet high, it is the tallest waterfall in the province.

Since it flows from Sierra Madre mountains, it can get so cold especially when it rains. Check the haze in all the pictures. The falling water are caught in between a large space of rocks acting like a reservoir where guests can swim and plunge into. 

Mother Falls

Getting here was not that easy. First, the tricycle ride was very rough and bumpy about 15-20 minutes. I really mean the word bumpy because I was momentarily separated from my seat when the tricycle hit the rough and bouldery road. When we reached the entrance, the challenge was far from over, we crossed makeshift bridges and hiked rocky terrains for at least an hour before we reached the main falls.

Since this is a top tourist destination, it is highly suggested that you visit early in the morning to maximize the experience. Guests are allowed to trek until 4 pm for safety reasons, so make sure to be here before the specified time. They do not allow bringing of food and drinks at the falls.