Category: Philippines

No one disputes Baguio City as the summer capital of the Philippines. Because of such fame, many other temperate communities around the country call themselves little Baguio. Though there are many other cooler places around; Sagada and Banaue, to name a few, Baguio still remains the place to go for the majority of Filipino vacationers. With a climate that may go as low as 8 °C from December to February, Baguio is the most sought-after vacation spot for those who are looking for an extraordinary chill. The Mansion: The official residence of the President of the Republic of the Philippines ... Read more

I was back after 12 years. The port looked really different and I couldn’t find any familiar edifice. There were no foreign traces nevertheless, still I felt ‘twas my first. Though a ride along the hilly terrain caused me deja vu. It was 2003 when I first stepped Bohol for a Regional Schools’ Press Conference and I didn’t have any follow up visit after that. So after more than a decade, I felt I wasn’t been there before. Boat for Island Hopping My purpose wasn’t an island tour but a staycation in Alona Beach, the province’s priced beachfront. Situated in ... Read more

A sudden stop woke me up. My legs twinged and my elbow pained. I probably pressed them unconsciously against hard surfaces when I was asleep. My neck also hurt a bit. Having it tilted for hours might had strained the tissues. After few stretches and twists, I was back to my inured self. Traveling with Stangers: Not a new thing I peeked outside and immediately recognized that we were close [to our destination]. I did a quick fix; wiped facial oil traces and checked if my stuff were intact. I looked around the bus to inspect if the team is doing ... Read more

I could hardly choose the best deal. Barbecue vendors were rushing to swank about their freebies and discounts. After carefully scrutinizing their offers, we had selected a spot for our chomp. The promise of unlimited free soup and great bill discount influenced our decision to side Eliza’s, a barbecue shop within Larsian. The crew lead us to our seats. The chitchats of the other group beside us were apparent. The normal office rants and the random day-to-day perturbation were the usual topics. The other side, on the hand, talked about relationship and stuff. Larsian BBQ options The Experience The illumination ... Read more

A college friend, Mico, and his girlfriend, Jessica, visited Cebu for a job-related event. It wasn’t really his trip but Jessica’s and he just tagged along, with explicit permission, I guess. Anyway, being based in Cebu, I was tasked to show them around and have them try a Cebuano feast. That time, I was fairly new in Cebu, so I asked my current officemates for recommendations. “STK ta Bay! Paolito’s Seafood House” was among the list. We decided to try it on our day 2 dinner. STK ta Bay! sa Paolito’s Seafood House What greeted us was a gallery of distinguished ... Read more

Being reachable only with private cars and taxis, Lantaw SRP isn’t really for everybody. Though perched within a not-so-inviting location, people frequent the place to experience their al fresco dining and taste the sumptuous dishes on their list. The restaurant made quite a buzz to the city’s working class, and our curious palates told us to try. When we got a chance, we dashed to the restaurant, tagging along our guest. Open Air Dining Area adorned with hanging paddle boats The location isn’t really noticeable, most especially if it’s your first time. In fact, we passed over the place without ... Read more

It was almost complete, and almost a mishap too. We weren’t completely unfortunate though. We finished our Cotabato-Iligan-CDO tour with all body parts intact and, luckily, with less injuries. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid, also known as the Grand Mosque of Cotabato The Creepy Ride from Cotabato to Midsayap The palpitations started when our PU driver/tour guide in Cotabato Grand Mosque offered to bring us directly to Midsayap and insisted to take the road along the MILF territory. Though we followed all his warnings not to take photos and not to look at them in the eyes with utmost obedience, we couldn’t set ... Read more

Adorned with four tall spires or minarets in the major corners of the main chamber; domes crowned with crescents; walls, doors, and floors crafted with Islamic designs; and array of stunning arches, the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid or the Grand Mosque of Cotabato looks really magnificent for every spectator. The mosque, which stands in a well-landscaped and gated compound west of Cotabato City, is funded personally by Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, whom the mosque was named after, to help the emerging Muslim population in Mindanao. The US$48 Million mosque is the largest of its kind in the country when it was ... Read more

We missed whitewater rafting when we visited Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and Camiguin in 2013. So, when the group returned to Mindanao two years after, we could not afford to skip the activity for the second time. First thing we did when we reached CDO was look for Kagay, the most popular white water rafting organization in CDO, and booked a slot for 5. Despite the sun burn and aching feet we got when we visited Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada, Cotabato, and Tinago and Maria Christina Falls in Iligan, everybody anticipated with enthusiasm. In preparation for the big event, we ... Read more