Category: Philippines

The weather seemed uncooperative. Thick, gray clouds shrouded the horizon. It blocked the sunburst from hitting the surface. Below it was another stratocomulus layer hovering to the northeast—the direction of the southwest monsoon. Beyond it was a draping downpour, a harbinger of a miry adventure. The Visayan sea was rather chaotic that moment. Unpatterned ripples collided with each other—creating riptides—and repeatedly smashed the hull of the outrigger banca. The boat’s troubled buoyancy hardly kept us afloat. I could see how the worries gushed, whenever the forward bow alternately plummeted and scaled. Some of us were not confident swimmers though. We drifted to Malapascua at a poky speed, thus enduring the ... Read more

Sumo Sam is not a typical Japanese restaurant. The strokes of kanji printed atop the branding, the “hinomaru” circle on its logo, and the part of the name itself, sumo (a Japanese martial art) are your only clues. The restaurant’s look and ambiance, however, does not feel Japanese at all, despite the presence of some Nihon cultural figures and paintings displayed at the bar. The dining sets look modern and the ceiling lights are pretty contemporary, similar to any “hodgepodge” restaurants out there. Sumo Sam at Ayala Center Cebu Good thing that the selections on the menu cover a mélange of Japanese cooking. Your ... Read more

The simple vertical strokes of orange and red makes a fine and stunning contrast with the ivory walls. The tidy-stalked bamboo trees, the small mead that wrapped the lawn, and the classic-looking set blend perfectly to let you experience a zen feel. The Reception A simple and chic reception There’s nothing flashy in the receiving area. In place of chandelier is a hand-crafted spherical rattan which mesh added an atypical element to the lighting inside it. Two black solo couches seemed out of place with regards to color coordination, but give a comforting acceptance to the waiting guests. The reception desk is ... Read more

As an archipelago, the Philippines provides literally endless experiences, opportunities and activities for the would‐be tourist. Offering a landscape comprised of mountains, rivers and lakes, breathtaking beaches and tropical forests spread across over 7,000 islands, the options for exploration and discovery are endless. Here are four of the most popular reasons for visiting the Philippines: The Ruins in Talisay City, Negros Occidental Sightseeing The Philippines can boast not only some of the most spectacular natural beauty the world has to offer, but also some of the most breath‐taking man‐made phenomena for you to explore. There are the Banaue Rice Terraces, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ... Read more

When I hadn’t had a sight of the top, It was then I fathomed that it would be a tough climb. A friend told me that it’s around 750 steps. I had no expectations at first, because I had never tried a continuous steps before. I couldn’t even scale the difficulty level by merely looking at it. But then, we started the hike – we are climbing up the famed peak of Coron, Mount Tapyas. Appreciating Coron, Palawan When we reached the 100-step marker, we were proud of the milestone, but the sweats were dripping endlessly from our faces. On the ... Read more

I could feel the warmth of the morning sun. Bright rays transcend through the wooden shutter window. It was left open. No one minded to close it though, after watching the fireworks that lit the sky the night before. New Year’s Eve, that was. I was still sleepy at 07AM. However, inasmuch as I wanted to return to sleep—I couldn’t—I remembered I agreed to join a friend for a laid-back sojourn in Moalboal. The resort town is one of Cebu’s popular destination for diving, aside from Malapascua, Bantayan, Camotes, and Mactan. So after a quick fix, I headed to Moalboal on New Year’s day. ... Read more

Oysters, shrimps, and pork sausages are mainstays – that was the only info I have about Creole cooking. I never tried one either, and was never curious. Aside from being rare in the Philippines, only few restaurants specialize such cuisine – most of them are too pricey. Creole traces back to Louisiana, more particularly in Big Easy or New Orleans. You may think of haunted houses, vampire movies, all-night parties, and the Mardi Gras. My idea about New Orleans though is obscure, and tainted mostly with fiction. I must admit, the lowdown I have about the Big Easy is almost next to nothing. New Orleans interior features ... Read more

The second to the last stop of the first ever Cebu Food Crawl, a foodie event organized by Cebu Bloggers’ Society (CBS), was Gibbs Hot Wings. I did not have any expectation. But the idea of having a hot and spicy treat after almost a day of great munch is worth anticipating. After our coffee break, we were driven to the Streetscape Lifestyle Mall branch of the Gibbs. Coy Oliva, the restaurant owner, warmly greeted us. He even talked about the humble beginnings of the business. A feast courtesy of Gibbs’ Hot Wings “We started simple. Our hot wing have ... Read more

I don’t actually spend much money on accommodation. Hence, I usually end up staying in hostels or in bed and breakfast hotels, which are usually at the bottom of the list when talking about the price. Normally, I will get a small room with a flat sheet on a thin bed, two hard pillows, an analog TV (if lucky), and just a fine comfort room. But that is not worth complaining. I am completely aware that I only shell out few hundreds for the humble space to sleep. Pillows Hotel facade, reception and terrace So, if I find a little ... Read more