Watch Cinema One #TheWayYouWantIt!

I am a person who rarely watches TV.  Yup, but how come I’m blogging about a topic which relates to watching TV?  Well, it’s because I thought the subject is just perfect for someone whose TV viewing time in a week is close to nada.         

You see, for someone like me, getting glued on the boob tube makes the entire TV viewing pleasure a real pleasure because it's not something done out of habit. Yes, it makes my TV viewing experience more memorable since it only happens but rarely.  And those rare times, I would tune in to cable channels. Just last week before retiring to bed, I chanced upon Cinema One and Hihintayin Kita Sa Langit starring Richard Gomez and Dawn Zulueta was showing. I finished the entire movie even though I already watched it several times before.  I remember watching a lot of cable shows, especially during the time when I was bedresting due to my delicate pregnancy.  Our bedroom TV was my best buddy and Cinema One channel proved to be a great help in curing my boredom and regaining my sanity. LOL.

 

I recall crying over "One More Chance" starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, even if I had watched it twice already that week.  I would even wait for it to be shown again the following days so that I could cry over it again. From the moment I would wake up until my sleeping time, our bedroom TV was tuned in to SKYcable channels like Lifestyle Network, ETC, Discovery Travel & Leisure, AFC, etc. but the afternoons were devoted to Cinema One channel. That was how busy I was then.

Now, whenever I get the chance to watch TV, the first channel I would check is Cinema One and then the lifestyle shows and cooking shows. That is, if my kids are not around or else Disney Channel would always dominate the screen.

I'm glad there's SKYcable. True to its motto, SKYcable has given me a world of limitless possibilities with its widest selection of channels and different ways to enjoy it.  Continue reading below to know its four (4) amazing features: 

First, it lets you add channels and packs that you like to your basic plan. Say you have a big family and each member has a favorite channel to to watch.  No need to brood, here is a feature that makes everyone in the family happy and gay.

     

Secondly, it has the most number of standard definition (SD) and high definition (HD) channels. Who wouldn't want to watch HD all the time????  I do.

  

Thirdly, it lets you get access to special shows and events through SKYcable Pay-Per-View and Free View.  All you boxing fanatics out there or Manny Pacquiao addicts, this is for you! This is such a money-saver. You no longer have to fly to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao fight. You can watch, scream your lungs out, shout, and stomp your feet and do anything and everything you want in the comforts of your home while cheering for our Pambansang Kamao.    

And last but not the least, it enables you to take control of your TV viewing with iRecord. This is definitely for me and my favorite not because mommies, like me, tend to take control all the time, lol,  it is simply because I get to pause, record and then playback my favorite scenes of Popoy and Basha in One More Chance and get to do some household chores in between.

I can even record those cooking shows from AFC and Lifestyle Network while catching up some shut-eye or doing something else at home. This means, not missing any recipe from Barefoot Contessa and Giada De Laurentiis. How convenient is that?  With iRecord, iAmOneHappyMom!

"Today, over 800,000 subscribers have made SKYcable the number one cable TV service provider in the Philippines. SKY has grown to feature the best and most varied cable programs for the whole family with amazing value added services for your family’s viewing enjoyment."

SKYcable caters to the family and understands that TV viewing can be a great family-bonding activity.    

A Whole Lotta Love for Bohol: My Life-Changing Travel Story

 

 

I am still basking in the overwhelming feeling of bliss after one of my dreams came true just last week. Our vacation to Bohol was planned long before it was hit by an intensity 7 earthquake. Despite the images we saw from the news about the devastation, we were still determined to visit Bohol.

This would be our first time to travel to Bohol. Days before our take-off, I was done with our itinerary. Detailed as it may seem, I did not want to stress over it. The schedules were flexible because more than anything, what I wanted was to relax during our travel. Taking vacations are supposed to relax your mind, body and spirit and not to tire you even more. It’s like taking a medicine when you’re sick. It should make you feel better not worse. So, the day before our trip, I went on a coffee date with my Date and committed our travel plans to Him who can make us that perfect itinerary and knowing fully well that with His blessings, guidance and presence, nothing could go wrong.  How I wanted to experience and longed to commune with nature.  

      

The day of our arrival in Bohol came. The 30 minute drive to Doljo, Panglao was smooth yet uneventful.  We passed by a lot of damaged church buildings on our way to our resort. Bohol is a quiet place, we thought.

As I stepped out of the van that took us to our hotel, I gazed at the lobby and at the far end across, something captivated me - the smell, sight and sound of a beautiful ocean. WOW!! Complementing the clear blue sky was the calm sea in all its turquoise glory. It was spectacular! I immediately felt refreshed just by staring at the beauty in front of me. 
 

 

Just a good two-minute walk from where we were staying was this quaint resort and restaurant where we had what we wanted to have for our meals – all kinds of seafoods at very reasonable cost. Walking along that short stretch was therapeutic. It was like having our own island. Neither was there any sign of “busyness” nor loud crowd.  Everything was serene and I liked it that way. 
                   

 

For the adventure part of our vacation, we went on a city tour. I was excited and eager to finally see the pictures I would just usually read from my children’s Araling Panlipunan textbooks come alive. 

The tarsiers are Bohol’s living treasure. Yes, they are the stars of the show, so to speak.  I never knew they were that small and fragile until I was face-to-face with them. They are a perfect symbol for Bohol --  a picture of gentleness and quietness.  

Reaching the viewing deck at Chocolate Hills Adventure Park required us to embark on another journey-- that of climbing approximately 250 stone steps. Initially, I thought we signed up for the “Biggest Loser”, but, I took it as a challenge. Anyway, I haven’t been exercising for the longest time so I thought, taking those steps would pretty much count as my work-out days for the whole year. I was too exhausted to admire the view when I reached the top but just like eating real chocolates, the moment I saw the hills which, by the way, are made of limestones, I felt re-energized. And then, it was time to take those stone steps once again, this time going down.
 

Passing by the Man-made Forest was like being transported to another country. I was thinking what if zombies appear while we were having our pictures taken in the middle of the road surrounded by those gigantic trees.  But no, there weren't any zombie, only fast cars that made our photoshoot even more exciting.  

          

The River Cruise was another lovely experience. The live band and singing all the more made the experience one-of-a-kind. I couldn’t help but admire the picturesque sight of everything green in all shapes, shades and sizes while our big boat raft traversed through the wide and serene Loboc river.     

What I loved most about our tour to Bohol’s different tourist destinations was that each spot showcased Bohol’s natural beauty. There’s something here for everybody. Whether you are young or old, you will surely have an experience in Bohol that you will want to come back for.  Bohol is a big showcase of nature at its best.     

There were many moments during our vacation that I felt God’s love and hand upon us. I felt that this vacation was really meant for us.

 

 

 

It was such a joy to see our kids and hear their laughter while playing in and just relishing the pool overlooking the beach.

 

 



I had fun watching them fill their beach pails with starfish. But the following day, it was a touching scene when they bid their catch goodbye while releasing them back to the ocean.
 


I was thrilled to see my husband having a time of his life taking pictures left and right. Panglao is a slice of paradise and it is a photographer’s haven.    

 

Everything was wonderful, but what was life-changing to me about this travel was that I got my wish – to feel His gift of life through His works of art. As I stared at the vastness of the ocean in front of me, I couldn’t help but say, “Thank You, God, for this wonderful vacation.” My soul was refreshed and rejuvenated.

 

 

 

Then and there, I experienced the joy and peace of living in the present moment  and savoring it.  I realized that "everything has God's fingerprint on it," which makes every moment spent with those I value the most in my life so special.

I believe I found the secret to having an amazing & life-changing travel story to tell– it is simply having that “let-nature-take-its-course” attitude or better yet, it’s letting the One who commands nature to take over… Just as it should be in our lives. And yes, I wouldn’t want it any other way.