Category: Philippines

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

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