Our 2019 NYE Family Reunion in Pansol, Laguna

January 14, 2020

Our 2019 NYE Family Reunion in Pansol, Laguna is one for the books. We welcomed 2020 with our hearts full (of love and gratitude). Everyone was happy to finally be able to spend quality time with the whole family.

The video begins with us on a rented jeep (same jeep and driver that we have rented for the last 4 years! Thank you, Kuya Robert!) on our way to Laguna which only took us about an hour or so since the resort was near the main road.

We stayed at Hemingway Eco Resort.

We booked it for 24 hours and we arrived early at 04:30pm (supposed to be 7pm). We were informed by the caretaker that our check out will be same time as we arrived. Good thing the resort was not occupied on the previous night so we were allowed an early check in. There are many rooms – 6 air-conditioned bedrooms in total which can accommodate up to 50 pax. Rooms are clean and the heavy-duty bunk beds are made of steel frames. The caretakers are friendly. Please note that the use of gas stove costs additional 500 and there is no water dispenser available so I suggest bringing your own jug full of water or buy 5/10L bottled water somewhere else . BTW, Mutya St. in Maria Makiling Village is muddy when it rains because it is not yet cemented. It’s not a pretty sight but you will be inside Hemingway Eco Resort premises for most of the time anyway.

The first few hours upon arrival were spent picking rooms, decorating with balloons and prepping food. The kids didn’t waste time and already began swimming in the pool.

Sorry, the photo is a bit blurred. It’s the only one I have of the kids’ night swimming.

Here you can see the simple balloon decor I made and the main table full of cooked food, cakes and kakanin:

Tita Verna set up the table for the presents, the snacks and the bowl of round fruits.

A few hours before new year, we have started playing Bingo with the rest of the family members (Round 1) – even the kids had fun playing along us adults. BTW, I won a Coffee Bean 2020 Planner haha!

The others won cash prizes…

The next day, the adults also joined in the swimming pool. We did not see much of the sun that day but good thing the pool was warm (not sure if it’s from hotspring though). The only time you’ll feel cold (because of the breeze) is if you get out of the pool.

Unfortunately, we missed taking a group photo for this reunion. This is probably the only photo I have with most of the family members (playing bingo):