March 17, 2008

Christiana is 1 and Joshua’s 4!

By Heart2Heart | For kids, Photography | 2 Comments

My friend Janet never fails to have birthday parties for her four kids every year. I guess it is something she loves to do for her kids and at the same time enjoys doing it. Janet is so creative! She prepares almost everything herself. I am so amazed!! From the invitation to the decorations to the cake, to the giveaways to the games. She even makes the props for the games herself by putting together different stuff so she ends up not spending anymore to buy them. I told her that she should be a party organizer because she is really good at it. I admire Janet, as a mom, as a wife and simply as she is. She is one of the simplest person that I know and that is what makes her stand out. I am lucky to have met her and her family.

With her permission, Heart2Heart is sharing with you the photos from the party of Josh and Tiana last February.

Treasure Hunt game! What a nice idea! The kids dig form the sandbox and look for the hidden treasure. There are “X” marks to give them clues.

Fishing game! Hook a duck and win a prize. Fish the net of gummy fishes and its yours!

Kids had their own pail and shovel to scoop up their treasure from the treasure chest. Whatever they are able to put inside the pail is theirs to keep.

You will never believe this but even this cake Janet made herself. We went together to buy some of the treasure sticking out but she cut up the cake to make it look like a treasure chest and then she fixed it all up to look like that. AMAZING!!

The photos above are actually pages of a book which I made with I Photo on my Mac. Of course i took the photos first then I laid them out. After which I sent it over to my friends, Chu Chu and TC Sibal’s, store, Picture Books, to have it printed. They can also lay it out for you if you have your digital photos but I enjoy doing it myself in my Mac. It took only 4 days and they even delivered it to my doorstep with a minimal fee. I was very happy with the printed book and with the service I got.

Then I gave it as my gift to the kids for them to look back at it when they are older.

It is a great way to make an album because it serves as a story book as well. It tells a story and you can share it with your friends and family.

Taken from their website: http://www.picturebooks.com.ph

Easy Steps to Create A PictureBook

1. Just bring in your digital pictures to any of our retail outlets. You can bring in the memory card or a disc containing the photos. You can also use pictures from your cellphone (although resolution may not be as good as a digital camera).

2. Choose a size: Small, Medium or Large. Then pick a theme for your book. Will it be Hard-Bound or Soft-Bound? We recommend using high resolution photos for the Large size.

3. Sit with our PictureBooks operator and watch as your photos are laid out into a book. You’ll be surprised, its actually fun and easy. The process can take as little as 15 minutes or up to an hour depending on how involved you want to be. For convenience you can also leave it up to our Picturebooks operator to completely lay it out for you.

4. Review and check the final book before you go! Make sure you have everything just as you want it. Please double-check the spelling and captions.

5. Pick up your very own PictureBook in a few days! It takes us 4 working days. Remember its even better when you share it as a gift! (By the way, you can also have it delivered to your doorstep instead.)If you are a Mac user, then you can already make your PictureBook at home and just send us the file.

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March 15, 2008

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Easter Circus

By Heart2Heart | Events and Launches, For kids | No Comments

Spend this Easter at the Circus!

Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages…the circus is coming to town! On Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008, from 12:00nn-5:00pm, the Rockwell Tent at Power Plant Mall will become a carnival of festivities filled with whimsical surprises and non-stop entertainment in celebrating the much awaited Easter Circus!

Feast your eyes on this! Exciting activity booths and rides will be strewn all about the big top tent to tickle your appetite for fun and adventure. Have your face painted with bright colors and a fancy design, treat yourself to a glitter tattoo, take a ride on a carousel or indulge your imagination in our balloon twisting booth… and that’s just the beginning!

The circus ringmaster has prepared a special show jam-packed with amusement and wonder. You’ll never have to stop clowning around since you’ll be surrounded by entertainers of all shapes and sizes! Prepare to be dazzled by stilt walkers, unicylclists, fire-eaters, juggling acts, acrobats and gymnasts twisting and turning in every which way, plus enjoy a show of magic and illusion that will make your heart somersault with thrill.

There are games to play and prizes to be won. Not only that, this circus has an inflatable castle where you can jump around to your heart’s content! Even your taste buds can join the celebration as you devour chocolates, candies and sweets galore!

And finally…the event you’ve all been waiting for…ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to present…the Easter Egg Hunt! Start sharpening your eyes because the hunt this year is going to be more amazing than ever! Everyone’s a winner because prizes and goodies await all of the children who join!

But wait! The fun’s not over yet! Nobody leaves the circus empty handed! Each child will be going home with an Easter souvenir loot bag filled with yummy treats and circus favors.

And the best part is that you don’t have to walk a tightrope to be part of this festive event! You can even register ahead of time to avoid lining up on the big day. Beginning March 8, 2008, Easter passports will be available at Power Plant Mall’s customer care desk (located at the R1 level). On March 23, 2008 registration will begin outside the Rockwell tent from 12:00nn onwards. There are limited tickets available so jump on the bandwagon while you still can! See you at the circus!

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March 13, 2008

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Beacon Field Family Day

By Heart2Heart | Events and Launches, For kids, Sports | No Comments

It was a nice morning at the Beacon Family Field Day…. Families getting together to play sports with their kids The 3 houses – Narra, Molave and Acacia Headmaster Mr. Kay and everyone saying the oath The kids….. With their parents……. The games….. More parents…. of course the food….
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March 9, 2008

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Beacon Grade 6 visits Forest Club!

By Heart2Heart | For kids, Nature, Summer | 4 Comments

I am always on the lookout for great places for the kids to go and I recently heard about Forest Club and found out it was owned by a friend, Robbi Mercado. And just a few weeks ago, Jaime went there with his class…..and HAD A GREAT TIME!! Since our kids grew up in the city, it is always good for them to rough it out and experience nature…Forest Club seems to be the PLACE TO BE. I hope to visit it one day. Thanks Robbi for taking photos for me, next time I want to do it myself… 🙂

The Forest Club (http://www.theforestclub.com) is a nature sanctuary and eco-friendly training institution committed to the healing and renewal of Mother Earth. For schools and student groups, the Forest Club offers the Eco Adventure Program, a set of interactive outdoor modules designed to help mold participants into responsible stewards of Mother Earth. Participants are not only assured of having fun but also end up learning something new about the environment and their role in protecting it.

The Forest Club provides an accessible and ideal environment not only for school field trips but also for corporate team building activities, seminars and conferences, spiritual retreats and family vacations. Forest Club prides itself in having a very relaxed and natural environment.

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BEACON SCHOOL SCIENCE FIELD TRIP

by Robbi Mercado

Taken from: http://theforestclub.com/main/beacon_grade6

Despite the intermittent showers and the wet surroundings, 37 Grade 6 students fromBeacon International School visited Forest Club last 21 February 2008 for a whole day of fun-filled learning activities.

The field trip was organized by Teacher Trixie who brought her students to Forest Club to help them learn more about their current science studies on seed plants.

The first activity was a short but lively discussion over langka and banana turon, kamote-que and fresh buko juice on the rich bio-diversity of the Philippines, the current state of deforestation and the urgent need to plant trees in order to help protect the country’s dying flora and fauna.

The Forest Club staff was pleasantly surprised not only with the kids’ grasp of current environment issues but more so by their animated commitment to doing their part in saving the earth.

Then came the fun part: the Eco Adventure activities.

The kids enthusiastically participated in games meant not only to be fun but also designed to develop more appreciation for Mother Earth.

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Showering after the mud crawl…

After lunch the students were toured around Forest Club. They were shown the herbal plant gardens, the vermicompost facilities and were also made to plant hardwood trees seedlings. Forest Club will nurture the narra seedlings for the Grade 6 students until these are big enough to be transferred to the Beacon International School campus.

Information taken from Forest Club website:

Facilities:

Cottages

Four cottage units available
Maximum of eight (8) persons per cottage unit
With one air-conditioned room good for two (2) persons
With one fan-cooled loft good for two (2) persons
With daybeds in the verandah
With one toilet and bath per cottage unit

Suites

Two family suites available
Fully air-conditioned
Up to twenty (20) persons per family suite
With separate toilet and bath facilities

Main Conference room

Capacity for up to sixty (60) persons
Fully air-conditioned
With sound system and OHP
With separate toilet and bath facilities

Rates:

VENUE RATE (DAY TRIP)

Venue DAY TRIP Rate: PhP450 per person (plus VAT)

Inclusions:

Complete food package: Welcome drink upon arrival, morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack. Lunch is served buffet style with a minimum of three dishes. Juice and purified drinking water are provided with all meals.
Use of swimming pool, tennis court and basketball court.
Use of poolside huts:
Kabanya A or B

maximum of eight (8) persons
poolside

picnic table

fan ventilation

Accomodations (optional): The following are our prices for each room, per day …

Narra A or B,ORMolave A or B	PhP1,500	maximum of eight (8) persons per cottage unit	one air-conditioned room good for two (2) persons one fan-ventilated loft room good for two (2) persons one toilet and bath
Tindalo,ORKamagongsuite	PhP4,000	maximum of twenty (20) persons per cottage unit	fully air-conditioned suite separate toilet and bath facilities

Notes:

Day trip check-in time is no earlier than 8:00 AM and checkout time is no later than 5:00PM.
Additional meals are priced as follows: Snack – P100/person, Breakfast – P150/person, Lunch or Dinner – P250/person.
Guests are not allowed to bring their own food into the resort.
A 50% downpayment is required no less than three days prior to booking date.

VENUE RATE (OVERNIGHT STAY)

Submitted by ram on Mon, 04/30/2007 – 3:11pm.

Our Rates consist of an accommodation rate per room type and a meal package per head:

Accomodations: The following are our prices per room, per night …

Narra A or B,ORMolaveA or B

PhP3,000

maximum of eight (8) persons per cottage unit

one air-conditioned room good for two (2) persons
one fan-ventilated loft room good for two (2) persons
one toilet and bath

Tindalo, ORKamagongsuite

PhP8,000

maximum of twenty (20) persons per cottage unit

fully air-conditioned suite
separate toilet and bath facilities

Complete Meal Package: P700/head (Plus VAT)

All guests are required to avail of our food package which includes: welcome drink upon arrival, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and breakfast the following day before checkout.

All meals are served buffet style with a minimum of three dishes per meal. Juice and purified drinking water are provided with all meals and breakfast is served with coffee.

Children 2 years and below are free. Children 8 years below get a 50% discount.

Notes:

Overnight stay check-in time is no earlier than 12:00NN and checkout time is no later than 1:00PM the following day.
Additional meal prices are as follows: Snack – P100/person, Breakfast – P150/person, Lunch or Dinner – P250/person.
Guests are not allowed to bring their own food into the resort.
A 50% downpayment is required no less than three days prior to booking date.

CORPORATE ECO ADVENTURE PROGRAM

Corporate Eco-Adventure Program Rate: PhP750 per person (plus VAT)

For Companies and Adult Groups

Minimum Number of Participants: Twenty-Five (25)

Inclusions:

Complete food package: Morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack.
Choice of Eco Adventure Modules (to be designed and agreed upon prior to booking date):
- Survival Games – Forest Canopy Walk, Mud Crawl, Ifugao Bridge, Hanging Bridge, Bamboo Rafting
- Trust Games and Teambuilding Exercises – Caterpillar Race, Spider Web, Elevated Fall etc…
- Traditional Filipino Games – Tinikling, Patintero, Kadang Kadang, etc…
- Pool Games
- Walking Lecture Tour – medicinal herbs, reforestation, zero waste management, vermiculture

Notes:

Minimum number of participants is twenty-five (25)
Maximum number of participants is two hundred fifty (250)
Participants are not allowed to bring their own food into the resort.
A 50% downpayment is required no less than three days prior to booking date.

ECO-ADVENTURE STUDENT DAY PROGRAM

Eco-Adventure DAY PROGRAM Rate: PhP600 per person (plus VAT)

For Schools and Student Groups

Minimum Number of Participants: Twenty-Five (25)

Inclusions:

Complete food package: Morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack.
Choice of Eco Adventure Modules (to be designed and agreed upon prior to booking date):
- Survival Games – Forest Canopy Walk, Mud Crawl, Ifugao Bridge, Hanging Bridge, Bamboo Rafting
- Trust Games and Teambuilding Exercises – Caterpillar Race, Spider Web, Elevated Fall etc…
- Traditional Filipino Games – Tinikling, Patintero, Kadang Kadang, etc…
- Pool Games
- Walking Lecture Tour – medicinal herbs, reforestation, zero waste management, vermiculture

Notes:

Minimum number of participants is twenty-five (25)
Maximum number of participants is three hundred fifty (350)
Discounts may be negotiated based on number of participants:
- One hundred twenty (120) or more: P500/participant
Participants are not allowed to bring their own food into the resort.
A 50% downpayment is required no less than three days prior to booking date.

ECO-ADVENTURE STUDENT OVERNIGHT PROGRAM

Eco-Adventure OVERNIGHT PROGRAM Rate:

PhP900 per person (plus VAT) plus Accommodation Charges

For Schools and Student Groups

Minimum Number of Participants: Twenty-Five (25)

Inclusions:

Complete food package: Morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner and breakfast prior to check-out the next day.

Choice of Eco Adventure Modules (to be designed and agreed upon prior to booking date):

Survival Games – Forest Canopy Walk, Mud Crawl, Ifugao Bridge, Hanging Bridge, Bamboo Rafting
Trust Games and Teambuilding Exercises – Caterpillar Race, Spider Web, Elevated Fall etc…
Traditional Filipino Games – Tinikling, Patintero, Kadang Kadang, etc…
Pool Games
Walking Lecture Tour – medicinal herbs, reforestation, zero waste management, vermiculture

Accomodation Charges: The following are our prices per room, per night …

Narra A or B,ORMolaveA or B	PhP3,000	maximum of eight (8) persons per cottage unit	one air-conditioned room good for two (2) persons one fan-ventilated loft room good for two (2) persons one toilet and bath
Tindalo, ORKamagongsuite	PhP8,000	maximum of twenty (20) persons per cottage unit	fully air-conditioned suite separate toilet and bath facilities

Notes:

Minimum number of participants is twenty-five (25)
Maximum number of participants is one hundred (100)
Discounts will be given based on number of participants:
- Sixty (60) or more: P850/participant
Participants are not allowed to bring their own food into the resort.
A 50% downpayment is required no less than three days prior to booking date.

The Forest Club is just 1 hour and 30 minutes from the Ortigas Center in Pasig City and is located at Barangays Puypuy and Masaya, Bay, Laguna. The Forest Club accepts only guests who have made prior reservations.

website: http://theforestclub.com

Manila Booking Office (9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Mondays to Fridays)

Maien Clarino

Telephone: (02) 376 46 23 or 24

Mobile: (0917) 825 89 58

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March 8, 2008

0

MSA Soccer Summer Camp

By Heart2Heart | For kids, Summer | No Comments

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March 6, 2008

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Dancespace Summer 2008

By Heart2Heart | For kids, Summer | 3 Comments

Primary Ballet

The young students are taught body awareness and basic locomotor skills. They are exposed to classical ballets thru music, books and ballet performances. The use of imagination is strongly encouraged thru props such as wands, scarves and tambourines. There is lots of exploration by means of moving like different animals, pirates, fairies, sea creatures.

Level I-III

Ballet technique is taught inspired by English, American, Russian and Chinese styles. The National Ballet Syllabus of the Philippines is used as a reference. Proper placement and posture is stressed. Foot therapy and floor exercises are incorporated in the classes to supplement the classical ballet training.

BALLET
Mon/Wed/Fri	2:30-2:30 PM	LV2	8-10 year olds
	3:30-4:30 PM	LV1	6-8 year olds
	4:30-5:30 PM	PRIMARY	3-5 year olds
	5:30-7:00 PM	LV3	11 and up

JAZZ
Wed/Sat	12:00 – 1:00 PM	Jazz 1	4-10 years old
	1:00 – 2:00 PM	Jazz 2	11 and up

TAP
Sat	10:00 – 11:00 AM	Tap

RATES

1 hr classPer Class PhP 600

Monthly
4 Sessions	PhP 2,400
8 Sessions	PhP 3,200
12 Sessions	PhP 3,600

1 1/2 hr classPer Class PhP 700

Monthly
4 Sessions	PhP 2,800
8 Sessions	PhP 3,400
12 Sessions	PhP 3,800

ABOUT DANCESPACE and MARITONI

In the summer of the 2000, Maritoni started Danspace at the basement of her parent’s home. Her thrust was to provide personal training to young dancers, sharing with them her wealth of experience of more than ten years of professional dancing with companies both here and abroad. Now on its eight year, Danspace has had four grand recitals at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati and two Summer Dance Workshop Culminating shows at the Main Ballroom of the Manila Polo Club. They have also participated in the Abap Danseries XI & X and the Abap Swan Lake Project, Fashion Show.

Danspace has found a home at the Manila Polo Club McKinley Road, Forbes Park, Makati and trains children from 3 years old and above. The school is guided by the National Ballet Syllabus method however Maritoni’s open classes are inspired by her training and exposure to the Russian, American and English methods. It has a 9 month School Year period and a 2 month long intensive Summer Dance Workshop. The school works closely with the Sayaw Foundation and extends scholarships to gifted and deserving students from the foundation. Recently, thru their joint effort, one of their scholars became a finalist to the National Music Competition for Young Artists (NAMCYA). She was chosen among 90 regional students and was recently promoted as a company member of the Philippine Ballet Theatre.

Maritoni Rufino-Tordesillas

Director and Principal Teacher, Danspace

As a Principal dance for the Philippine Ballet Theater, Maritoni was hailed by critics as a “versatile, wide range actress,” having “turns securely centered,” and “one of the finest dancers this country has ever produced.” She has performed most of the classical and neo-classical ballets in the company’s repertoire. Her most notable roles where: Cio Cio San in Madame Butterfly and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet choreographed by the late Thomas Pazik,Cinderella and Raymonda by Jean Paul Comelin,Gregoria de Jesus in Andres KKK by Gener Caringal, Carmen by Eric V. Cruz, Kitri in Don Quixote, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Giselle. She like wise worked with the country’s top choreographers often times originating the roles that have remained in PBT’s repertoire to this day. She danced as Dysebel in Gener Caringal’s Filipino Komiks and in his Prism and Vinta, in Tony Fabella’s Beautiful Girls, Buklog, The Company, Mantones de Manila, Kundiman and Hanggang Sa Dulo Ng Walang Hanggan, she was Josephine Bracken in Steve Villaruz’s La Lampara, and the Japanese in Edna Vida’s Thatness Thereness. She was coached by Gelsey Kirkland and Cynthia Gregory, two American Prima Ballerinas for the roles of Kitri and Odette/Odile respectively and has been partnered by International guest artists like: Wes Chapman, Parrish Meynard, Timothy Melady, Charles Askegaard. With the PBT, she has performed in the US, Mexico, Japan, and Singapore. In 1995, she was a member of the Basel Ballet of Switzerland under Youri Vamos and in 1989 she danced with the Eglevsky Ballet of New York under the direction of Michael Vernon.

Maritoni’s dance training started when she was eight years old with Sony Lopez Gonzales and then later on with Tony Fabella and Eddie Elejar. In 1986 she trained in New York under a merit scholarship at the Neubert Ballet Institute in Carnegie Hall. She studied under Steffan Hoff, a contemporary of Mikhail Baryshnikov at the American Ballet Theater, Elena Kunikova of the Leningrad Mali Theatre, Nina Popova of the Ballet Ruses and Jenny Chiang. She took theRoyal Academy of Dancing examinations in 1993 and received Honors in Elementary and Highly Commended in the Intermediate Majors examination with Sonia Domingo as coach. In 1995, she started teaching for the Philippine Ballet Theater Conservatoire and became its School Principal from 1998-2000. In 2000 she founded Danspace and remains to be the schools principal teacher and choreographer training 60 students year round from age 3 years old and above.

Maritoni’s theater credits include: Cordelia’s spirit in Anton Juan’s King Lear, Cinderella in Cinderella, Mimi and the Silver Rose in Beauty and the Beast for Repertory Philippines Children’s Theater, Louise in Carousel, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Isabel, Mrs. Cratchit and the ballerina in Rep’s A Christmas Carol.Gaining experience in Musical Theater from her stints with Repertory Philippines, Maritoni has been teaching Music and Movement at the Philippine Opera Company for the past 3 summers. She also choreographs musical numbers for corporate shows and various projects.Maritoni is an attendee to the National Ballet Syllabus year’s I-IV and was PRO of the Association of Ballet Academies, Philippines for the year 2004.

Almost at the same time she started Danspace, Maritoni discovered Asthanga Yoga. In 2006 she graduated from the Centered Yoga Institute in Koh Samui, Thailand under Paul Dallghan and became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance. She is also one of the founders of Yoga Manila, the leading yoga school in the Philippines. They have branches in Alabang, Makati and Ortigas.

Maritoni promotes a healthy lifestyle and encourages her students to go beyond their capabilities. Her teaching style is nurturing and revolves around a good foundation. She is committed to their growth and well being and aims to produce students that are well trained, hard working and disciplined yet encouraging their unique personalities to shine thru.

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March 6, 2008

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Young Learners Collaborative Summer Program 2008

By Heart2Heart | For kids, Summer | 3 Comments

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February 28, 2008

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Marta’s Cakes

By Heart2Heart | Foodie, For kids | 3 Comments

We were able to stop by Marta’s cakes at Serendra last August while waiting for a dinner date…. Did not get to try anything but a cup of coffee. A friend had a birthday party here for her daughter and I thought it was a great idea. What a nice place to have a private party!! For sure the cakes and pastries tastes as good as it looks!

Whenever we go to Serendra with the kids, no fail they have to pass by Marta’s to get their cupcakes. They like to decorate their cupcakes and cookies and eat them after…

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February 26, 2008

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Matabungkay Summer Beach Camp (March 28-30, 2008)

By Heart2Heart | For kids | No Comments

The Matabungkay Summer Beach camp is organized by my friend (the owner of the Matabungkay Resort) and myself. We have been doing this for a few years now. She takes care of all the resort requirements, and I oversee the camp as it’s Camp Director. We have a professional group, CORE (Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education), that manages the activities such as the rope courses, beachfront games, team building activities, fire safety, survival cooking…. We also have an artist who will give the campers basic lessons in oil painting. As for parents, they are not allowed to be with their children at the camp until the last day. The parents are encouraged to join their kids and other families for the final activity (something like the Amazing Race), watch the children’s team performance and the awarding ceremony. But like previous years, some parents insist on being nearby (they are not allowed to check-in on their kids).

So we arranged a package wherein they can stay overnight on Saturday. It’s p1995/head plus 10% service charge, minimum of 2 heads — inclusions are an executive room, buffet dinner, smooth jazz concert on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. It’s a reasonable package because their room with the lowest rate is regularly p3400++ without any inclusions.

Please check out www.matabungkay.net <http://www.matabungkay.net/> for photos of the place.

Thanks alot and I hope to see your children/nieces/nephews at our camp this summer.

Regards,Hazel

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