Philippine Travel Notes

This topic started with this article Let us jump to the moon? Well, yes Luna is Spanish for Moon! What do we call people who hail from a place named Luna? Lunatics? Aw! There are 2 towns named “General Luna” while there are 3 towns named just “Luna”. The town General Luna in the province of Quezon (Region 4A – CALABARZON) is a fishing village facing the Tayabas bay and the island of Marinduque. Hey, I was surprised to learn (no, I did not see the spectacle, we arrived late) that this town celebrates holy week like how its done across the water over at Marinduque! Wow! The other General Luna is the famed surfing town on Siargao Island in the province of Surigao Del Norte (Region 13 – CARAGA). Kilometers and kilometers of fine white sandy beaches (untouched) are the thing here other than the surf and other water sports activities. The beaches are just not the in thing that tourists go there for. And to my delight! Then there is a town up north named Luna – a town in the province of La Un...

This topic started with this article What about HOPE?! Well, there are 3 towns in the country that bears this name Esperanza – meaning “hope” in Spanish. First is a town in the province of Masbate (Region 5 – BICOL) and it is at the southwestern-most tip just across the northern tip of the island of Leyte. Being a coastal town, this Esperanza also has its share of white sandy beaches. And it also has nice snorkeling and dive sites nearby. But accommodations are best had at the provincial capital. Then note that there is also the town of Esperanza in the province of Sultan Kudarat (Region 12 – Central Mindanao). Ah this town bordering the province of Maguindanao is adjacent to the Sultan Kudarat capital town of Isulan. More of a farming community than anything else, at least you’ll find a hot-spring in this town! Now there is still another Esperanza! And that is this big agricultural town in the northern part of Agusan Del Sur in the border with Agusan Del Norte. Rainforests are still h...

Metro Manila is awash with all kinds of malls and shopping districts. These establishments are sprouting by the day. And just about a few rainy seasons ago, there rose Tiendesitas – an affluent kind of tiangge or a permanent bazaar for the well-to-dos! It’s a wide expanse of a tent-like roofing with hundreds of little stores (stalls) in it – tastefully and orderly arranged – therefore expensive hehe! From the outside, the place looks like a Mindanao-inspired thing. Even the decors at the eating areas have those colorful vintas of Zamboanga. So what really is there at Tiendesitas? Ah… well… food, fun and shopping for expensive things that you can otherwise have at very low prices elsewhere. But let’s give you a tour of this “hip” place as many a middle-class family would call it. Where is it? Tiendesitas sits in a sprawling field near to (not along) Ortigas Avenue in Pasig . It is also near to (not along) Julia Vargas Avenue still in Pasig . Its frontage faces east and right in front...

This topic started with this article There are three towns! Two are in Luzon and one is in the Visayas. The first Dolores is a town way high up in the province of Abra (Region 15 – CAR). While this is a sleepy highland farming community (as with all of Abra), don’t miss this town if you will be in the area. Everyone will surely point you to a cave and underground river called Libtec. Of course, the Abra River is also a different kind of high for the adventurous explorers. Ironically, a lot of well-known people from the past to the present have come from this town. And many a Filipino community in the US will have someone who hails from Dolores, Abra! The next Dolores is a town in the province of Quezon (Region 4A – CALABARZON). At the foot of Mt. Banahaw, this town seems to be remembered more by many people for caves with spiritual healing and other spiritual powers. This place teems with rocks, caves, falls, springs and everything mountain till you reach the peak of Banahaw. But every...

Okay now. Because of the “Taxi From The Airport” series, many of you have been asking about the “going to the airport”! So here’s my take on that: From almost anywhere in the country, going to the airport by cab, bus, jeep, tricycle or any other means is pretty straightforward. Meaning you just hop into the airport at least an hour before departure. In fact, at times (at smaller airports) it can even be as tight as 30 minutes before the published departure time and you’ll still catch that flight! But let us cover the Metro Manila Airports as they are the most complicated – aside from chaotic! So where are you coming from? Caloocan? Makati? Pasig? Las Pinas? Bulacan? There are a lot of options depending on where you might be coming from. However, what many passengers do not realize or consider is the time of their flight’s departure as against the departure of other flights. And this is the single most important consideration. Let’s discuss that! My flight, their flight! In deciding as ...

This topic started with this article Whoa, we are now in letter D! So lets start with Danao. There is a town and a city both in Region 7 – Central Visayas. That town is in the hinterlands of the island of Bohol. It is just north of Carmen and roughly a hundred kilometers or so from Tagbilaran. Very rural and nothing of note there except Francisco Dagohoy was born in that town. In fact, until the recent past, it was commonly referred to as home to rebels and insurgents in the island. But I have witnessed nothing of that sort when I was there. Then came the Adventure Park! OMG, it can easily overshadow the other attractions in Bohol! The other Danao is the city north of, and just a few minutes from Cebu City. It’s an industrial city but try roaming around and you’ll see some interesting finds. Of course it will be easy to go-see one of the “gun smiths”. But its just an industry, they don’t go around town brandishing pistols hehehe. Try the ancient church. Like other old churches in the c...