Tag: Travel Guide

A forsaken island, which receives less attention and less infrastructure development funding, is seating idly at the north of Cebu. Its wonders are unexplored, its beauty is rarely appreciated, and its potential is constantly overlooked. I don’t want to make this article political, but in an island that can only grow cassava and noni, and is highly dependent on fishing, the local government must explore on sustainable tourism development as an alternative source of income for the residents. I heard that Ms Gina Lopez kicked off the project but the implementation phase isn’t underway yet. The top view of Kinatarcan ... Read more

The sun was almost touching the horizon. Its angle had caused the trees to cast stretched shadows on the surface. It radiated less heat. The alternating shade and exposure gave me a comforting mix of chill and warmth as I traversed the highlands of Candijay on a motorbike. The setting sun seemed conducive to a long, uncovered motorcycle ride. However, despite the favorable condition, I couldn’t not rule out the possibility of running out of time. I have three destinations on my list: Cadapdapan Rice Terraces, Can-Umantad Falls, and Canawa Cold Spring. I was afraid that I could not cover ... Read more

Malapascua is one of the smallest inhabited islands in the Philippines. It measures 2.5 on its longest side and 1 kilometer on its shorter span. Being a cleaning station for thresher sharks and manta rays and a home to diverse coral species, Malapascua became a famous dive site. The island is also a host to multiple white-sand beaches and interesting rock formations. Malapascua, by the way, floats 6.8 kilometers northeast of Cebu island. Malapascua’s northern strip, Langub Beach I’ve been receiving recommendations to see Malapascua since I moved to Cebu. Hence, when I finally got a chance, I boarded a bus ... Read more

Going to Camotes is somewhat taking an off the beaten path, at least for non-Cebuanos. The islands’ landscape is relatively rural and the development is exclusive only to resort operators. Public transport is serviced mostly by habal-habal or motorcycle taxi. Nonetheless, white strips dot the edges of its stunning foliage of greens. The interesting cave systems and the remarkable rock formations make Camotes Island one of the must-visit places in the Visayas. The Camotes Group of Islands (Poro, Pacijan, Tulang Diot, and Ponson Islands) is under the jurisdiction of Cebu Province with four municipal division under its umbrella namely; San Francisco, Poro, Tudela, and Pilar. Santiago ... Read more

After breaking a leg from life’s most demanding challenges, somehow, you wanted to reward yourself. A reward that will replenish your adrenaline requirements and raise your energy indicators to its maximum level. After all, pain comes after surviving the other. Such reward will definitely give you a boost to face the upcoming uncertainties. Travel always comes first when rewarding oneself. But sometimes, it isn’t all about getting to places, trying new flavors, or ticking out an item on your [bucket] list. It is much fulfilling when you venture out to an unfamiliar territory, and then braving it in the end. ... Read more

It was azure at first. But as we approached the shallow water of Pandanon Island, the tint of the water slowly turned viridescent. We all witnessed how the water gradually shifted from all the shades in between blue and green. The squeaky-clean sea makes the corals 10 feet below pretty evident. And as the corally feature morphed to sand, the 6-feet looked more like a knee deep. Pandanon island, by the way, is one of the stops of Mactan Island hopping. Other interesting islands include: Nalusuan, Hilutungan, Caohagan, Olango, and Sulpa Islands. Docked at Pandanon Island How to get there ... Read more

The Labor Day weekend altered the hushed atmosphere of Inopacan. Travelers and tourists flocked the boulevard to get a slot of the first batch of boat departures, which at that time, ran out really fast. It was still six in the morning, yet the dispatcher’s booth was overwhelmed with the swarm of excited as well as incited individuals. We were fortunate to be the first ones on the queue. A stunning sunset at Digyo Island Cuatro Islas: The Four Scenic Islands of Leyte Immediately after our market quest to shop for our two-day survival provisions, we found ourselves navigating to Mahaba ... Read more

The north-westernmost island of Cebu province is not only known for its desiccated produce. Bantayan, aside from being a dried seafood supplier to the province, is also a desirable location for sojourners. Bantayan Island, by the way, is a home to three serene and vibrant municipalities namely: Bantayan, Santa Fe, and Madridejos. Most of the islands beautiful beachfronts are situated in Santa Fe. With multiple white beach fronts dotting its edges, interesting rock formations adorning its cliffs, and mysterious cave pools spread at various locations, travelers won’t run out of things to do. Bantayan seaport, the main point of entry ... Read more

I could hardly draw the horizon. From my vantage point (at Culasi boardwalk), Mararison Island (also called Malalison) is covered with the draping downpour. According to the locals, it usually appears as a floating green mound during sunny days, but at that moment, it looked like a mere apparition. Still hoping for good weather, I headed to the municipal tourism office to book a tour. A two-way boat transfer is pretty expensive for a solo traveler like me, so I patiently waited for other guests to arrive. Like most of my travels, I usually share costly boat transfer fees with ... Read more