Pecan Pie at Sabin Resort Hotel

My family and I are currently on vacation here in the Philippines.  We are having lots of fun with dear family and friends.  Like right now, after a delicious dinner, we are having dessert.  Would you believe Sabin Resort Hotel serves pecan pie? I think that's awesome. I couldn't believe my eyes. We love pecan pie.

Pecan Pie at Sabin Resort Hotel Ormoc City

Wordless Wednesday: Sunset At Boracay

Wordless Wednesday: My Heart Breaks Seeing This Devastation from Typhoon Haiyan (3 Months Ago)

Need Some Help In This Frustrating And Heartbreaking Situation

I was very glad and thankful that I was able to reach and have talked to my brother and sister after the super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the island of Leyte.  I was very emotional because I got worried sick thinking about their situation.  After the typhoon, my brother visited my parents in Kananga the next day to see how's everybody doing in our town.  We were glad that they're okay but also saddened because my sister's and brother's houses were damaged.  All their belongings were damaged and wet.  She and her kids evacuated to my parents' apartment the day before the super typhoon made it's landfall.  According to them, it was a horrible experience and they thought it was the end of the world. There is no power and the communication went down immediately. 

Like everyone else who are severely affected by the super typhoon, my family is struggling as of the moment.  Our hometown was devastated, too.  The stalls and buildings in the market place were destroyed.  Prices of all the basic commodities went sky rocket!  Even the transportation rates got high that nobody can possibly afford to go to Ormoc City right away to get, at least, a cellphone signal to be able to be reached by a family or friend.  So frustrating that even relief goods haven't reached my hometown yet.  People are starving.

My circle of friends here where I live are helping us to gather donations for our families in Kananga.  Honestly, they need money to buy food, rice, canned goods, detergents, soap, toothpaste, sugar, salt, oil, gasoline, kerosene, water, tarpaulin, and small materials to do some repairs for their houses so they can have a place for shelter.  It will take time to rebuild their homes but at least, doing roofing and wall repairs can give them shelter from rain.  Food is scarce because grocery stores in my hometown haven't resumed yet. According to my brother, they have to fall in line at stores in Ormoc City that is selling rice, gas, kerosene, and groceries.  They haven't received any relief goods.  Very pitiful.

If you are reading this post, I would like to appeal to your kindness for a small monetary donation.  I am from Kananga, Leyte and our place was one of the severely devastated by the super typhoon Haiyan.  Please help me help my family.  My father got sick because of the situation.  I am not asking big.  A little help goes a long way.  You can email me at:  mgmarly@gmail.com for donations.  Thank you so much for your help.

Please Help!

This is the most horrible and damaging typhoon my country have ever encountered.  Super typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) hit the Philippines and made its landfall Friday morning, November 8, 2013 which is Thursday night here in the US.  I was already aware of the coming super typhoon so I called my parents.  My mother told me that everyone's in the apartment including my younger sister and her kids.  My only brother and his family evacuated to his wife's aunt's house near a school.

That Friday morning I called my mother to double check.  She told me the winds and rains arrived and they saw roofs from neighbors' houses blown away.  I told them to be safe and pray and stay together.  After that I haven't heard from them up to now.  The whole province of Leyte is black out no power and the communication is down.  I am so worried sick.  

I saw news reports on television that were recorded earlier when the typhoon's landfall.  After that, black out!  News teams couldn't stream or broadcast information due to no electricity and telecommunication signals went down.  To those who were in the big cities like Tacloban and Ormoc and witnessed the devastation that morning, they were able to take photos and videos from their mobile phones and shared them to social networks.  After that, nothing followed.  No updates up to now.  

No news yet from my hometown Kananga.  Our neighborhood is located between a river and a hill.  My sister and her kids live there but they evacuated to my parent's apartment downtown.  I just couldn't imagine how our neighborhood and my hometown look like now.  So many people are homeless.  No electricity, no communication, no food, no clothing.  All I can think of now is look for a way to help my family, friends, and kababayans there, especially the young ones.

Right now they need food and clothing.  I am taking this opportunity my fellow bloggers, online friends...asking for your kind donations.  That would be highly appreciated.  No man is an island.  They need help.  Monetary or in kind...it's up to you.  It will help them start a new life.

My PayPal address is:  mgmarly@gmail.com

Mailing Address:  Mg Marly

                            6976 Meadow Ridge Cir.

                           Nevada, TX 75173

Thank you very much.  May God bless you a thousand folds. 

Wordless Wednesday: I Miss Kananga, My Hometown

Christmas Spirit: Let Us Help Those Who Are In Need

Philippine local agencies and charities, even international ties are helping and donating for the welfare of my fellowmen in Mindanao, Philippines due to the calamity brought by typhoon Sendong. 

Philippines is regularly hit by typhoons mostly during rainy season-July to January.  It is very difficult to go to work or go to school on these days.  Flash floods, landslides, and even soil erosion devastate some cities and provinces. I came from the Leyte Island.  And I won't forget how the flash floods devastate Ormoc City in 1991, because of the super typhoon Uring.  It was a horrible tragedy in history.

And now Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City in Mindanao Region is in calamity.  Donations are accepted here.  Thank you.

Philippine Independence Day

 HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, 

PHILIPPINES!

Declaration June 12, 1898

Wordless Wednesday: Bunny Teeth :B

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Two Lovely Resorts In Leyte

We are back! 'Arrived DFW Airport at 9:50 yesterday morning. Now, I am feeling the blues because I am missing my family already. My husband and I know it will be fine because we really had a great time with them. We spent the whole time in two resorts in Leyte...Baybayon ni Agalon in Albuera and Sabin Resort Hotel in Ormoc City.

Since my honey's first visit to Leyte, Sabin Resort Hotel has been his favorite place to stay in Ormoc. Besides being close to my hometown (Kananga), the resort is also 5-8 minutes away from the city proper of Ormoc. We like going to town riding a tricycle. My honey calls it a trike :)

Baybayon ni Agalon is 10-15 minutes away South of Ormoc City. We heard about its beautiful location (by the shore). The resort has a beautiful landscape, quiet, and green surroundings. What makes this resort remarkable because it has a very appealing pool that children would really enjoy swimming in its cool waters (with slides and all that). Plus, Baybayon ni Agalon has two Ostriches by the entrance.

If you want to check more, visit Baybayon ni Agalon at www.baybayonniagalon.com and Sabin Resort Hotel at www.sabinresort.com. Another thing, double check the accommodation rates before placing a room reservation.

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Feeling The Blues

It is hard to leave but we have to. We are leaving Leyte and will head to Cebu tomorrow. We will fly back to Texas on the 31st. The three weeks vacation in the Philippines is truly a happiness for us. Nothing compares to the good times spent with the family. We will miss everyone...surely. Not even on the plane yet, we are feeling the blues now. I know that everyone had a great time...they are happy to see us too.

As soon as we get back to work in the USA and get our pay checks, we will start saving again for the next trip :) We are looking forward to another vacation...hopefully a month long vacation.

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My Favorite Coffee And Some Travel Tips

My friend N got back from the Philippines. She granted my request to bring me a pack of 3-in-1 instant coffee. I am so happy because that is my favorite coffee.

N had a two-week vacation in the Philippines. She said two weeks is just a short time because some of her travel plans were canceled. Instead of catching up those plans on the early days of her vacation, she just went home to her province and spent most of the days with her family. She really had a wonderful time, I saw it on the pictures she took.

What made N really disappointed was, the prices of the necessities back home went up really high...almost doubled. She told me that she watched her budget. N advised me to be very wise with our spending when we go for a vacation to the Philippines so we will not caught out of hand. Gee, even airlines' excess baggage check charges had geared up. Now my honey have to watch for our luggage's weights.

I appreciate N so much for giving us some tips and bringing me a pack of my favorite coffee :) Welcome back N!

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Shipping Service Comparison

We sent another package full of stuff to my family in the Philippines few weeks ago. This time, we are getting the service of Forex (head office is in Houston, Texas). I read about Forex's delivery services online. Actually, some of my online friends (Filipina) uses Forex to send their packages to the Philippines. We are still using our banks (PNB) rapid delivery service. But we want to try something new, hopefully, better. I think there is nothing wrong with shipping service comparison. We just want to know which shipping company has the cheaper and yet the better service.

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Before My Instruction Permit Expires...

...I better continue practice driving now. It has been almost 10 months since I enrolled in a driving school last year. My Instruction Permit (IP) will expire on January next year and I want to take the road test before we travel for a vacation in the Philippines this year.

Yes. We are planning to travel back home. And my honey want me to take the road test as soon as I feel the comfort and confidence behind the wheel. The pleasant surprise came and I am very thankful to God for the blessings He is granting us.

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A Bit Back In History

So here is a compliment from Mize of My Country Home. She is a very kind Portuguese blogger whom I met just recently. I am so amazed doing my blogging thing because meeting new friends from around the world including Portugal is an awesome experience. I remember in my history class in high school that General Ferdinand Magellan, who discovered the Philippines in 1521 (if I am not mistaken), was a Portuguese. Hah! I cannot believe I still recall what I learned from my history class (laughs).


And here is another one from Chronic Chick. I admire her courage. I learned that she is carrying something painful and yet she continuously living life to the fullest. I appreciate Chick for considering my blog the coolest one.

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