Solely Yours - Surigao

June 6, 2011 is a Monday and it’s back to school day, but I’m not going to school. Instead, I’m heading for Surigao!!!!!!!!!!!!!! With Mr. Aben.

Agora by 9am, then reached Butuan during lunch time. We dropped by Marige’s for the wifi to do some emails. Since we were already there, we tried their food, and yes it was great. The place is very cozy. The walls are decorated with vandals. There were many people dining there, so I assume it is a known café in the city. 

After lunch, back to the bus – for Surigao!

From the bus station, we took a multicab – since there were no taxis in the city. Before checking in, we dropped by Solely Yours – Authorized distributor of Havaianas in the city. So if you’re in Surigao and you wanna buy some Havs go to Solely Yours! They’re right behind a standalone Penshoppe. The store opens from 8 in the morning and closes at 7 in the evening.

The store owner, Ms. Jenny Bernal arrived and drove us to our hotel.

After an hour they picked us for dinner. We head straight to Ocean Bounties. The food tastes great!

After Ocean Bounties, we went to Tavern – perceived as high end hotel in Surigao. There I met two new friends - Doc Lambs and Ms. Ivy. 

Mr.Aben, Ms.Jenny, Ms.Ivy and ME!

After Tavern, we decided to have a pizza! and Calda's was just behind the hotel. 

After eating, Ms. Jenny and Mr. Vernon drove us back to out hotel.

The following day, means work again. 

Back to the store and Mr. Aben conducted training workshop to the sales associates. 

While they were having their training, I got busy chatting with Ms. Jenny. 

After the first half, we went out for lunch. Just near the store is a resto named Islands Restaurant. Their food tastes great!

After eating, took a break, back to the hotel, and after an hour we went back to the store for the visual merchandising and hands-on training. 

It was a very productive day! And so for dinner, we went to Pier View, barbecue station near the pier. It is a street occupied with a barbecue stations. They serve good food and I was amazed of the number of people eating there.

Next stop, Bookcafe. A cafe where you can rent books. 

Mr.Vernon and Cobo on the lower right

 After bookcafe, Videoke. So we went straight to Drop Buy.

ME, Ms.Ivy, Ms.Jenny and Mr.Vernon, Doc Lambz, Mr.Aben

But the we needed to stop and transfer because of the brown out! 

next stop?? Kody's Music Bar! Big thanks to the brownout. Without it, I won't experience how fun that place was. 

There we enjoyed the rest of the night. 

The following day we traveled back to Butuan.....

Shelves and Hangers - Iligan

The 29^th of May 2011 was the date I first experienced traveling because of work. We (me, mr.aben, ms.tiny) were there because we were invited to Shelves and Hangers’ Havaianas Photo shoot Contest.

My role there is to see Iligan and its market and of course to visit Shelves and Hangers – the only Authorized Havaianas retailer in the city.

We left Cagayan de Oro at around 9 in the morning and arrived at almost 11. We then headed to Jalexis (wasn’t able to take pictures of the hotel), just near Shelves and Hangers – a block away.

After checking in, we walked to the store, visited the SAs, had a little chitchat then to Aruma!

Aruma is a coffee shop owned by Jeager Fetalvero.

Ms. Tiny; Jeager; Mr.Aben

We then decorated the place with Havaianas paraphernalia since the judging of the photos will be done there.

Our lunch on the lower right

After the decoration, we had……. L-U-N-C-H! Yes! Aruma serves lunch! After eating lunch, we decided to try their banoffee cake and yes, it tastes great!

After all the eating, Mr.Spanky, the Owner of the Shelves arrived. Some petty talk inside the café then off to Gaisano Iligan! But before we left, we were given coffee as baon.

pictures taken inside Gaisano

From Gaisano, back to the café to prepare since the judging will start by 3pm.

After the judging, they served food again! Spaghetti and sandwich. I love spaghetti but I wasn’t able to consume everything. Not that it didn’t taste good, but I was really full!

Start of Judging

Contestants outside waiting for the judges to finish

crowd started coming in for the snacks 

owner of Highway 30

picture taking of top 10

picture taking of the top 3

After the program was the after party for all photographers @ Highway 30. (By the way the bar opened because of the Havaianas event.)

stolen shot by Mr.Aben

This was the time I ha d a chance to really talk with Mr.Spanky – though he did most of the talking. I found out he was an Atenean as well, same blood! He’s really cool and very wise. I met a lot of businessmen, and had a long talk which ended (well not really ended, we just need to rest) @ around 12 in the morning!

From Highway 30, straight back to our hotel.

May 30, 2011 – the day started at around 9 in the morning.

Mr.Aben and I went out for brunch! We ate at Chrisven I think it was just along Quezon Ave. The service there is very good! And we had a very good lunch!!!!!

we had additional 2 platters of rice

after eating...

After eating, we decided to see the Streetshop, who use to retail Havaianas before and the new building for Streetshop – still on construction.

Then we went to church (St. Michaels) to visit and pray.

We just walked around Iligan with just our sun glasses on – no cap, no umbrella.

We checked out the hotel around 2 in the afternoon.

Then… back to CDO.

Next trip – Surigao and Butuan!...