Philippine Travel Notes

This topic started with this article Then we have Candelaria. There are two towns! One is of course the well-known copra town in the province of Quezon near the capital Lucena City (Region 4A – CALABARZON). This Candelaria being at the foot of Mt. Banahaw has a lot for the nature lover. Spring and nature resorts, waterfalls, ancestral houses abound. The other Candelaria is up in the province of Zambales (Region 3 – Central Luzon). This Candelaria also teems with resorts. Not spring or mountain resorts this time but sunny sandy beach resorts facing the South China Sea! But it’s not all coastal paradise here. There is also a lake purported to be the cleanest in the region. Ah, the now getting famous Potipot Island can be accessed from this town. Not a beach bum? Well, look around and feast your tongue with the delectable big Zambales Mangoes! Ahh!

This topic started with this article Calamba has a twin! So we thought that a mention of this town always refers to the birth place of the national hero Jose Rizal and/or the Mt. Makiling and/or the hundreds of hot-spring resorts and pools and/or the “original” buko-pie! Not always so! The other Calamba is far down south in the province of Misamis Occidental (Region 10 – Northern Mindanao). Ironically, this town also boasts of a lot of spring resorts and pools! I wonder... did Rizal go there too while in exile?!!

This was at a fence in front of a residence along the famed Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong. Yes there is no park, just a tindahan hehe! Kuha?! Oh well, the interesting warnings of our times!

This is that famed street in the city of Mandaluyong that has already gained much acclaim locally and even internationally because of the purported fantastic Christmas Lights and decorations of the houses. Finally, and thanks to the incessant requests of too many of you, I went to that little street just this afternoon! The verdict, yes I was amazed but NOT TOO HAPPY! I suspect this is a “sign of the times” and “false entrepreneurship” working hand in hand. How did I know about this place? Well, for years now, this street always makes the headlines on various news media during the Christmas Holidays! Going there Transportation to the area is a bit tricky for the first-timer. So I heeded the advice of friends who have been there – “don’t bring a car” unless you have a driver who can go elsewhere after dropping you off and return to fetch you when you feel like its time to go! There is no place nearby where you can park a car with peace of mind! So you have to do a commute! Don’t worry, ...

Aha! This is a topic exactly a year overdue! For whatever reason/s (there were a whole lot hehehe) I failed to post my 2005 notes on this festival. And the 2006 version just happened last night and I was also there! So, let me aggregate my notes and probably even make comparisons of last year’s versus yesterday’s event! How did/do I know about this event? Though not (yet) very much publicized on various media, this festival is mentioned (at least) on the government’s “Wow Philippines” tourism website. And I have learned by asking around that this festival usually happens on a Saturday and usually the first weekend of the “simbang gabi” series of nights! So last year it was December 17, this year it was yesterday (16th – ok, a few hours ago), and next year it will probably be on December 15 (Saturday) – although simbang gabi starts on the 16th! Going there As with last year, we stood out along EDSA to catch a bus that would be going to, or passing by San Fernando City (Pampanga that is…...

This topic started with this article Bato means stone or rock. Cabatuan means a place with a lot of them stones. Cabatuan, thus, is a name of many places as obviously there are a lot of 'stony' or 'rocky' places in this country. Fortunately for our sake, there are only 2 towns named so. There is one in the province of Isabela and its namesake in the province of Iloilo. The one in Isabela is an agricultural town still high up in the cordilleras but its right beside the City of Cauayan which makes it a bit more populated than other farming communities. Well, its namesake in the province of Iloilo is more well-known to be the town where the new airport is being constructed! Of course it hosts the Hinirugyaw Festival which is a derivative (even a copy) of the Dinagyang and/or Sinulog! Now… now, wouldn’t any Pinoy think that these two towns actually derived their names the way the 3 towns of Bato got theirs?! Rightfully so! And there is even a town in Masbate called Batuan i...

This topic started with this article We’re just still in the same-name towns and cities that start with the letter “B”! As promised in my previous post, let us now try Burgos. The name traces back to a hero, Father Jose Apolonio Burgos who is the “BUR” in famous acronym GOMBURZA. Father Burgos was born in Vigan as an “insulares” having had a mestiza mother. Anyway, Burgos town in Ilocos Norte’s northwest edge is famous to travelers as it is there where we catch the majestic Burgos Lighthouse also named Cape Bojeador Lighthouse. Its one of the tallest, oldest and actually still in use! The other Burgos town is in Ilocos Sur (still Region 1). Well, rightfully I think since this is the province of the dear martyr. But for the visitor, this town is nothing much than an agricultural place that is landlocked and borders the province with Abra. The 3rd Burgos is in the province of La Union (still Region 1) by its border with the province of Benguet. This town is nearer to Baguio than its capi...

This topic started with this article What about Buenavista?! Well, there are FIVE towns in this country that bears that name, so be careful lest you get lost! The name means “goodview” (Buena=good, vista=view). So probably the Spaniards and whoever else named these places saw some grand scenery from these places. First is Buenavista in the province of Quezon (Region 4A – CALABARZON). This town is in the southern part of the province called the Bondoc Peninsula that kisses the Ragay Gulf. This one has a wide land area but nothing much for the erstwhile tourist! The 2nd Buenavista is in the island-province of Marinduque (Region 4B – MIMAROPA). This town is the southwestern end of the island and has hot springs, sulfuric spring resorts and waterfalls. The 3rd Buenavista is the northern tip of the island-province of Guimaras (Region 6 – Western Visayas). This is the entry point to the island from Iloilo City esp when the waters are rough. The wharf on this town was built by Gen Douglas Mc...