How to Survive as a Single Parent

When life turns around like fairy tales and not ending in as "they live happily ever after", and one day you have to wake up single-handedly taking care of your kid with a role of mother and father. It's not a dream, it's the reality you have to face. Don't worry you are not alone raising a child whether you are from a divorce, a widow or no partner to deal with raising a child. As time passes by we realized that we indeed survived.

Here are some tips on how to survive as a single parent:

1. Look for an income as fast as you can. If you can claim any financial support either from insurance, child support, home base jobs do it. It can be short-term but it can be a great help in terms of your finances.

2. Have a stable job. The hardest part is who will be going to take care of your children when you're at work?  The best way is to seek immediate help with part-time caregivers either it's your trusted neighbor, friends or drops by your children in legitimate caregiver services for safety reasons. Even it's biting your salary don't resign from your job. It's a no-no situation. The last resort you may do so is to ask one member of your family to look after while you at work.

3. Do a task calendar. Mind your children's school activities so you may have time to participate or take leave in your office. This is a very tiring job but you can do the responsibility as goes along the way.

4. File any government benefits as Solo Parents. You can avail benefits and discount once it's been approved. It is a  case by case basis according to what country your residing.

5. If you have spare money to save and it's a must. Get insurance which your child can have the most benefits in health and education. The trust fund is a good investment for your children. Remember you are a single body working so hard whatever happens to you no one will help your children financially. Be a visionary.

6. Only you but you can solve all the problem but it's better to talk with someone like friends and relatives sometimes you got a better suggestion how to go about things in life, but you will be the sole decision maker at the end.

7. Don't mind to have another relationship, don't put pressure on it. Remember love comes along unexpectedlyBe happy that all our hard work pays off this is very temporary, time flies so fast. Our children will be a responsible adult too as what their parent did. Be a role model.

Pahiyas Festival Merriment of Town in Quezon

Let's get on our calendar to one of the festive days in Lucban Quezon, the Pahiyas Festival on every 15th of May. The festival is part of the Thanksgiving of the most farmer for a bountiful harvest during times. Every part of town they decor facade, town halls and houses with colorful and very edible "kiping" a rice paper shapes with flowers and leaves. It serves as the ornaments everywhere in streets and you can eat it too. 

At the entrance of the town, you will be welcome by the arc of festivity. "Maligayang Pagdating" as mean to "Welcome "

As you walk along the streets of Lucban you can't avoid looking at most colorful Kiping displayed, keep on capturing every sight as this festivities you can experience the great influx of tourists. 

Kiping used as ornaments in leaves and flowers

Eat the kiping its taste like a flat wafer with dash of sugar you will surely enjoy it!

A town folk selling souvenirs items in the street, try to get some and support their  local products

It's a wow experience and somewhat crowded street during festivities

 See how this town people decor their places it's a great experience to see colorful and very traditional way of celebrating their town festival

The last part of the festival is that you can't avoid tasting the renowned pancit hab-hab its a noodle specialty in town but the best thing is how you will eat this stuff

a delicacy in Lucban know as pansit habhab or pansit Lucban

Dig in!You can't eat it with the fork or anything but habhab-in or means use your mouth to eat it ..funny way to eat this. The visitors are enjoying their pancit after a day walking. 

Tamales a town specialty made of rice with a sour taste wrap in banana leaf or corn husk.

I consider this town festival as a very colorful one, people are kind, very helpful and you can meet a lot of people along the way. If you are part of southern Luzon this is just a few hours drive and via bus going to Lucena .

Nasugbu Batangas an Awesome Experience

Welcome to Nasugbu Batangas

 Nasugbu is a  2hrs drive away from Manila where you can find the most beach in different sands texture and colors. All you have to do is to explore the island around by renting a small boat (banka) . You may try to visit any of baranggay like Calayo . 
To get there from town proper of Nasugbu heading the way of Punta Fuego and Hamilo Pico sands.

The Poser along Nasugbu beach areas

The summer  is from April to May its Mango season (shown the variety of Piko its sour when green but super sweet and succulent when ripe)

Ready for island hopping you can rent a banka at Php1500 and get there the white island. It is called white island because of its powdery white sand. 

Some other parts of the Island you can see a brownish beachfront 

Sunset at Brgy Calayo Nasugbu Batangas

Occidental Mindoro a Hidden Paradise

We started to travel via Batangas City where all hubs going to nearby island start, It's no hassle travelling at dawn , no traffic .You may take the ship of Montenegro Line to Abra de Ilog Occidental Mindoro

Batangas City port area

                                                      

We started off to  a very interesting spot in Occidental Mindoro in town of Sablayan that you can take a pure bliss in visiting both river and beach. The town nestled in the middle of map of Occidental its so vast. I was invited by a friend to discovered the hidden paradise of their town. 

Occidental Mindoro mountain ranges

Due to its mountain ranges they didnt even bother with typhoon , they are blessed in terms of geographic location. 

Patrick River in Sablayan 

Who would have thought its in the Philippines? The name of the river sounds foreign. Most of local kids are enjoying this river its so cool and refreshing. My son said " Mom this is my accomplishment my first time ever swimming in the river'.

The Golden Gate of Sablayan Town

You can imagine that townfolks build this thing? It's wondeful . But only motorcycle and bikes can pass on this bridge. 

Pandan Island 

You can go to the beach via motorboat to the island in less than 30 mins. This beach is unexplored and not yet commercialized, you can see a sea turtle on the seabed while you're in a boat. You can get cross with sea snake named walo walo. In the island, you can see tikling and eagle. 

Dried Fish a town specialties
It's pasalubong time to bring in Manila. You can choose a wide variety of dried fishes and most of their products are sent in Manila. Let's buy for our dear friends who weren't able to be with us on this trip.


What we asked for aside from eating fresh catch fishes? 

They serve a freshly cooked crab

A Filipino "ceviche" known as kilawin a delicacy which the province is well known for. This is usually cooked with vinegar with fresh herb with ginger. 

I will surely miss this areas of beach and rivers where I can sit back and relax. To get there have your first entry point in Batangas City Port via SLEX you may take the bus ride or travel via car. Transfer to ship going to Occidental Mindoro 

Misibis Bay Resort

Misibis Bay Luxury Resort what an awesome experience. Who would have thought that this resort nestled in the peaceful island in Bicolandias? Yes! an exclusive island for a great vacation getaway.

I personally visited and was been a tag-along pal and as far as they concerned this is good landscape and full of amenities that you can experience in just one island. we cant even finish all the activities all I'd really happy to experience the ATV going up the hill and have a breakfast on top with breathtaking scenery of islands.

To visit the island details here's the website for whole time experience

http://www.misibisbay.com/

An overview of my shots enjoy and have a safe trip!