First time meeting the Afam! Will they be charming, chaotic, or totally unpredictable? Spoiler: a little bit of everything. Read my blog to see how it went!

Disclaimer: All views expressed on this blog are my own based on my own experiences and do not represent of any entity with which I have been, are now or will be affiliated

January 03, 2026

Date of Send Off Part1: December 22-23, 2025

It’s been six years since my brother last came home to the Philippines.
The last time was in 2019, when our other brother got married—so yes, this trip felt long overdue and slightly emotional… but mostly chaotic.

Quick family context (because this always confuses people): I have two brothers, and I am the eldest. Although for some reason, everyone thinks my second brother is the eldest.
I can’t even argue with them because I do look younger than him. Not my fault. Genetics. Skincare. Destiny. 😂

Now onto the main character of this trip—my youngest brother, who is officially entering his getting-married era. He’s engaged to his American fiancé. They’ve been together for six years in the US, and now they’re finally tying the knot.

The proposal happened in 2025 at Disneyland—very on-brand, very romantic, very “of course he said yes.” And this trip? This was my first time meeting the fiancé in real life.

Between airport pick-ups, drive-thru food stops, long road trips, and nonstop catching up, this reunion quickly turned into a mix of travel content and major life updates.
And honestly? I couldn’t be happier for my brother as he starts this next chapter—while we all quietly accept that he’s no longer the baby of the family. 😆

Full video on my Youtube channel here.

December 22, 2025 (Monday)
Day 1 NAIA Terminal 3

After brunch at Rafael’s Tapas and Bar in Newport World Resorts, I started my day with their breakfast menu—fried daing paired with an iced Americano. I loved the restaurant’s ambiance and the service was great, although my Americano came out a bit sweet. It was probably just a small misunderstanding, but no complaints I still enjoyed my meal and my time there.

I initially thought there was a connecting bridge from Newport to the airport terminal, but either I couldn’t find it or it doesn’t actually exist. Either way, after eating, I booked a Grab and headed straight to NAIA Terminal 3’s arrival area to meet my second brother (Lewds) so we could pick up my youngest brother (Yves) and his fiancé (Josh).

Because I’m usually at the airport as a passenger, I tend to forget that at NAIA Terminal 3, those picking up arriving passengers can actually enter a designated zone. Noted for future me hence why I’m writing this down so I don’t forget again.

When they finally arrived, I was excited to see them. They looked great together, and it felt surreal to have everyone in one place again. After settling the parking fee, I also couldn’t help but notice how much NAIA Terminal 3 has improved since my last visit in August. Ever since a private entity took over airport operations, the changes have been very noticeable in a good way.

Jollibee (Drive-Thru)

Both of them were already starving, so we made a quick Jollibee drive-thru stop before heading to Tagaytay. Once we placed our orders, it took us around two hours to reach Tagaytay, enough time for the food to disappear and everyone to regain some energy.

Bulalo Capital
Payment: Card, cashless, and cash accepted
Price range: ₱300–₱600 per order
Parking: Free

It was already dark by the time we arrived at Bulalo Capital, so there was no chance to see the Taal Lake view anymore. Still, this is our go-to bulalo place in Tagaytay, and it never disappoints. The food is filling, the prices are reasonable, and you always leave satisfied.

We ordered a few other dishes, but honestly, the bulalo always wins. I could easily order just the bulaloor beef shank and be perfectly happy without anything else.

Bag of Beans
Payment: Card, cashless, and cash accepted
Price range: ₱300–₱600 per order
Parking: Free

A trip to Tagaytay isn’t complete without Bag of Beans. Skipping it almost feels like a sin. We stopped by for dessert and ordered ube cake, apple crumble pie, and a root beer float, the perfect way to end the night.

After a long day of travel, both of them were clearly exhausted, so we headed back home to Batangas to rest and recharge for the next day’s plans.

December 23, 2025 (Tuesday)
Day 2 Laiya, Batangas

We headed to Laiya, Batangas an almost 3 hour drive from Lipa City. This is where the beaches are here in Batangas. We headed first Jun & Anna and ordered halo-halo (this is a dessert in the Philippines) composed of mixed fruits and shaved ice with milk and you mix them together. It cost PHP70 and one of the best halo halo here in Batangas. We all love it!

After 2.5 hours from Jun & Anna, we arrived at Playa at Club Laiya.

Club Laiya
Day tour: ₱2,000 per person
Payment: Cash and card only, no qr payments
Inclusions: Full use of resort amenities; a wristband is provided as proof of payment.

Club Laiya is a resort where you can also dine without availing the day tour, as long as you don’t use the amenities such as the pool or shower rooms. We come here often, and at this point, it honestly feels like a second home.

For those planning to stay overnight, rooms usually range from ₱5,000 to ₱6,000 per night, with several unique options to choose from—including camper vans and cylindrical-style rooms.

The beach here is clean and well-maintained. While there are definitely more stunning beaches in other parts of the Philippines, Club Laiya is a solid choice if you’re spending just a few days in Batangas and want an easy, reliable beach getaway.

We had our meal at Captain Barboza Restaurant, where we ordered nachos, a mango shake, grilled pork, and calamares. Dining here was a great experience, especially with the beach view right in front of us, which made the meal even more enjoyable.

The average cost is around ₱300–₱500 per person, and the restaurant accepts card, QR payments, and cash only.

We wrapped up our day in the evening after having such a great time once again. Tomorrow, we’ve got some amazing activities planned, and I’ll be sharing all of that with you in the coming days. Stay tuned!

Love,
Maria