Author: Ian Limpangog

Jenna, not her real name, was panting really fast when she approached the gate of Dambana ng Kagitingan (or the Shrine of Valor) atop Mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan. After a very deep breath, she finally said; “..at last..”, then sipped the last drop of water from a transparent container. I saw Jenna and here companions halfway to the shrine when I was on my way up on a trike. I met her and her friends just arrived when I was on my way down. I would like to warn her that it isn’t their last struggle, but then I realized they already endured ... Read more

The Ayala Museum has long been around the corner. Though seating just beside Greenbelt 5 and perhaps, lurking along my daily walkway route when I was still reporting at our Makati office, I never got a chance to peek on what is inside. I was never curious, probably because of their “yellow” branding and frequent showcase of the Aquino family. Yup, to be honest, I am not a fan of Cory or Ninoy. Just recently, my visiting friends from Indonesia (Annisa, Wina, and Veeta) were curious and were willing to explore the museum. Since I volunteered to be their guide, I ... Read more

I am not sure if Go Hotels patterned their accommodation chain with Tune Hotels but the marketing, the branding, and the offers are almost the same. While Tune Hotels is a sister company of the budget airline, AirAsia; Go Hotels of Robinsons Land Corporation partners with Cebu Pacific Air, also a brand under the Gokongwei group. Tunes Hotels, however, has established reputation in 5 countries already such as Malaysia, Philippines, United Kingdom, Australia, and India while the Go Hotels chain is only present in the Philippines. The waiting area for guests I found a very affordable room at Go Hotels Otis branch so I ... Read more

Whenever I face a bitter situation, I usually hop on long bus rides to think about it and plan for a perfect scheme to resolve or ease the predicament. One moment, I did not go farther than I usually do. I headed to Angeles City, instead, just two hours from Manila with no plans in mind. Since the main reason of the escape is to think, I decided to look for a peaceful place to stay. I grabbed my phone and searched for hotels nearby using the Agoda app. Red Planet Hotel Angeles City offered a very affordable rate. I immediately ... Read more

It was my first time in Kuala Lumpur. I arrived via a bus from Singapore. The only information I had was I am alighting at Puduraya. I had pre-booked my accommodation at Agoda and I used that as assurance that I’ll have a good place to stay. The problem, however, was getting to the hotel from Puduraya. Luckily, I had the address of Tune Hotel Downtown KL – that lessened the worry a bit. The bus took nearly 6 hours to reach Kuala Lumpur. It was already 2 in the afternoon when we arrived in Puduraya. I followed where most of the people go, without any ... Read more

With my right foot on the 6-inch street gutter, my left extended a bit backwards, and my torso slightly leaning forward, my lap was strong enough to support my 8-kg crammed backpack. But before I did the drill, I had my eyes scanned the surroundings. I was in Pasay so I was a bit wary to the passersby. When I felt it was safe to open my bag, I searched for my face towel, unzipping almost every pockets. I believe that it was the downside of making last minute preparations, locating stuff would not be easy. It was just 4:00AM ... Read more

I hardly forgot those footprints I left at the edges of Camiguin’s White Island. It was probably erased by the tide now, but the memories are still fresh and apparent. It constantly reminds me to get out and plunge into a clear waters somewhere else. It is summer time again, and I should keep my ass off the office ergo seat. The White Island isn’t the only attraction you’ll find in Camiguin. There are majestic cascades, hot and cold springs, interesting underwater wonders, remarkable pieces of history, among others. The White Island, Camiguin Camiguin is one of those amazing places in the ... Read more

Seating on the edge of a volcanic mountain range of Zambales, Anawangin seems out of place. The white strip, the verdant pine tree amalgamation, and the clear aquamarine water make the cove superficially foreign to its surroundings. However, Anawangin makes a stunning contrast to the mountain ridges encompassing it. When you are looking for a place to escape from the fast city life and routinary activities, then Anawangin is one of the humble options. There’s nothing more noteworthy than living simply in a beach camp, sharing stories with friends, cooking for yourself, waiting for the sun to slowly disappear from the horizon, ... Read more

Here comes summertime and people from the metro swarm the closest water bodies to ease the scorch. One of the places frequented by the city folks is Daranak Falls in Tanay, Rizal. The waterfalls offers a natural cooling effect, venting out unnecessary body heat of every patron. Since it is one of Manila’s closest, the falls vicinity usually gets crowded for the month of March to May. The cascade splits and becomes thinner too. However, if you are game to join the rumble, then continue reading this article for you to prepare for your next getaway. The crowded summer in ... Read more