Blogs

White Island Camiguin: A Floating Gem

From afar it shimmers, seems enticing every gazing individuals from the main island’s shore. The White Island in Camiguin is like a floating gem wherein you’ll be tempted to touch it once you see it. You want to feel its texture, dazzle its luster, seize its beauty, and experience its wonder. White Island is pure white sand island that floats 1.4 km (0.87 mi) off the northern coast of Mambajao, Camiguin’s capital. The tide constantly re-size and reshape the island and sometimes divide it into even smaller islets. The island was the first stop of the day 2 of our Camiguin ... Read more

Rainy and Windy Camp in Banana Island Coron: A Throwback Post

‘Twas almost two years since we visited Coron in Palawan. I suppose to wait for three more months for me to “sigh” and say “it has been two years” but I just can’t help it. I browsed through my Facebook photos and I found some pictures (tagged by Marx) with indelible memories and I got really excited to share the story. That is why, I couldn’t wait for three months to make a throwback post about it. Since I’m three months short, maybe, I should call this a “throwback post: three months early”. We went on a remote island hopping ... Read more

Laoag’s Aurora Park and Ilocos Norte Capitol in Photos

I only got a chance to see Aurora Park in Laoag during my last night. I spent the first day of my solo Ilocos Tour in the south of the city (Paoay and Batac). My second day was allotted for my visit to Vigan while I spent my entire third day in Pagudpud and its neighboring towns. I returned early after my trip in Pagudgud to see what’s within Laoag. It was already dark when I reached the city so I wasn’t able to check the Museum so I just took a stroll in the nearby Aurora Park. Here are the photos I ... Read more

Spending a Birthday in Legazpi City

How adults celebrate their birthday? Well, if you are single and miles away from your family, then you celebrate it alone. Since college, I have always been celebrating solitary birthdays. Last year, I got a chance to go on a solo tour in Ilocos while for this year, I decided to go south to see Mayon. Actually, I had the choice to book a flight to Dumaguete and treat my family, but my urge to visit places I’ve never been is too strong – like an addiction I couldn’t resist. Alos, I’ve been treating my family the whole year so I think ... Read more

Tatoy’s Manokan & Seafoods: Cooked Fresh

After checking-in at Ong Bun Pension House, where we spent our night before heading home, we boarded a jeepney at Valeria corner Ledesma Street to Tatoy’s Manokan and Seafood (sorry, I forgot the jeepney’s route). Upon hearing seafood, our ears rang really hard, making us in doubt. We’ve been eating the same seafood (scallops specifically) for two days straight  in Isla de Gigantes, so we wanted something different – something that isn’t shellfish. Since a friend, who happened to be a local, recommended the restaurant to us, we headed there without further questioning. The jeepney ride took nearly 45 minutes and it ... Read more

4R’s Foodhaus and Family KTV Bar Camiguin: Lutong Bahay Eat All You Can

After dipping around the waters of White Island and immersing in the cold splatters of Katibawasan Falls for half day, there was no other person who was hungrier than us in the island. So we asked our multi-cab driver/tour guide to bring us to place where we can fully indulge our food lust. He brought us to 4R’s Foodhaus and Family KTV Bar. For ₱125.00, we gobbled a banquet of Filipino home-made dishes (lutong-bahay). Yes, it was an all-you-can-eat experience. However, no matter how much we tried to taste everything in the buffet table, some dishes ran out so often. Unarguably, they do have a lot of ... Read more

Hapag Vicentico’s

June this year (2013), I was looking for a place that’ll spare me from the usual dousing on the feast of St. John the Baptist. Getting wet is fun but I wanted something that is different. So I googled for some other things to do and I stumbled to this kind of festival celebrated in a remote town of Nueva Ecija, the Taong Putik Festival. Learning this, I boarded a Five Star bus bound for Cabanatuan City the day before the actual event. I had to be in the town really early so I can witness how people do the ... Read more

Calle Crisologo Vigan: A Living History

Built way back the Manila – Acapulco galleon trade era, the Calle Crisologo houses in the city of Vigan continue to subsist. Thanks to the efforts of the local government, the National Historical Institute, and some concerned citizens in preserving these extant architectures – which allows the current, and I hope the future generations, to personally behold these pieces of history. Though there are traces of degradation, since some of its materials are made of wood which wither in time, I still wish that these wonders will endure another century. These edifices made Vigan to the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, ... Read more

A Breakfast Treat at Chef Lau’s Pugon Roasters

Though Ayala Triangle is just a short walk away from our office, I rarely take a stroll in the park. A friend invited me one Thursday morning (after our shift) for breakfast at Ayala Triangle. Even though we were unsure if there’s an open restaurant that time of the day (7:30AM), we still headed on the area. Lucky us, Chef’s Lau’s Pugon Roasters were already serving breakfast to their guests. Chef Lau’s Pugon Roasters serves breakfast from 07:00AM to 10:30AM. During these hours, only breakfast meals are available. Chef Lau’s Pugon Roasters’ Breakfast Menu and Order Counter My friend asked ... Read more