Philippine Travel Notes

Let's go! But... What Where When How? After asking around, I learned that it is only D'Turbanada Transport that has regular scheduled direct Tacloban~Palapag trips. So I went to find their terminal in the city. Easy to find because they are on google maps , and they have an FB Business Page ! They even have a people profile also on FB that looks like the most regularly updated. Click click click and... I wasn't satisfied, so, I went to their Tacloban Terminal, 2 days before planned departure. Why? Because I needed to know the differences between a big-bus , a mini-bus and van . Why? Ay, for longer trips, my long legs need to know! At the terminal, I was told it takes the van 6~7 hours from Tacloban to Palapag, but due to the waiting at San Juanico bridge, it at times becomes 8 even 9 hours. Hiyay! I knew that was a bit exaggerated. I noted that anyway, to manage my expectations. Then I saw these... all taped at various parts of the tellers' glass-wall...

This was excitingly fun with lots of happy surprises! That means... this will be a long read for you. But as I always do, I'll chunk my stories into a series for ease-of-read ! Alright... where is this place? It's on the northeastern tip of Samar Island. Here... That portion of Northern Samar (Province) has four towns facing the Pacific Ocean. Why go there? Well, why not? 'Hwag maging dayuhan ... remember? This side of Samar Island, along with towns to the south (part of Eastern Samar) have less explored natural wonders. Keep reading this, and my next stories, I'll tell you about many of them - in a series! I'll start with Palapag, then Mapanas, down to Gamay, Lapinig, Arteche then Oras. In one day? No no hehe! In several days, but most will surely be: I wish I had more time ! How to go there. There are various ways, depending on your preferred level of comfort, convenience, etc., plus - the adventure or challenge level you want to experience, ...

This air route has been on for a time now. It started as a regular route via a hype-up (or command?) of the president (Duterte) to decongest MNL by moving some flights to CRK. Was that 2016? I guess so. Hmm, before I proceed, let us do some 'tsismis'.., I heard, many stakeholders in/at/of Region VIII were vehemently opposed to the Department of Transportation picking TAC as one of the cities with flights to/from NAIA that would be transferred to Clark. How vehement? Ah, many of them (such as business chambers) trooped to their lawmakers or leaders that be, for the needed intercession to Malacañang! Lo and behold.., by the end of 2016August, the Regional Development Council VIII (RDC8) submitted a resolution to the DOTr declaring opposition to making MNL-TAC-MNL flights become CRK-TAC-CRK. I remember there was even an online (hashtag) campaign for this - the #NoToClarkForTaclobanFlights. So what happened? Interesting! At first, all 3 airlines (PAL, Cebu Pacific and Air Asi...

Another fairly new (to me) restaurant at the Tacloban Astrodome. Friday night, I arrived late in Tacloban from hinter-mountain-barangays of Burauen. I wanted a sea view dinner , to rest my eyes & soul from depressing scenes of the day. Driver said "challenge accepted" - as if I did not know, he was heading to Cafe Lucia hahaha! Alas di malas, it was full to every corner, me birthdayhan pang nagaganap! We ambled forward, rounding the Astrodome although we already knew every place would also be packed with diners - on a Friday night kaka-sweldo lang two days ago! Both driver and I prefer bars or restaurants facing Cancabato Bay for the views, and we usually park in front of the Samgyupsal place that we never visit - it's always full ! But, voila! A big group of young-and-old folks were just about leaving the restaurant beside Samgyeopsalicious. Driver even ran to grab one of their outside tables haha! I may be prone to forgetting this-and-that from-time-t...

I just happened by this hub, walking to where our vehicle was parked, after dinner at Ronn's . One derivative advantage when dining at restaurants with no parking spaces! Imagine that, if the restaurant had its own parking area, we wouldn't have walked on a one-way Burgos St., searching where our car was. Then I wouldn't have found this! What is it anyway? A Co-Working Space . A commercial venture, providing a shared office environment , where individuals from all walks of life like freelancers , remote workers , or other "unrelated professions" , work either individually or as groups or teams . That, includes students and/or researchers. Kon karuyag mo mag-trabaho (whether on the web or otherwise), pero ma-aringasa or waray espasyo ha imo opisina, balay, apartment, boarding house, that is where you go. This is something a bit new to Tacloban. There are still very few 'spaces' like this in the city, and this is even a first-time I saw one. We...

An interesting place to talk about among friends, colleagues and family. Why? Ay, it has positive & negative extremes, yet many folks keep salivating about. Include me! Let this be a 'study' on eateries as businesses or enterprises. And yes, something to ponder-about for us travelers - as to what we want to eat where - when in Tacloban! Ronn's Grilled Tuna & Sashimi is rather new in Tacloban. I say that, since I frequently pass by that corner (Burgos & Sto. Nino St) since 2014, and I've only seen it in 2018. Where the car is (at right) is Sto Niño St. To my left and right as I took that shot was Burgos St. Yes I stood a bit in the middle of the street just for that pic. Buwis-buhay! As you can see, the very street-corner is their grilling area. Wafts of seafood on the grill scatter around the place. Katakamtakam! Those guys are their "grilling crews"! I dined here only twice before, and tonight I was back with 5 friends. So 6 of us! That...

Really. This was beggary  on a higher level . Howsoever we look at this act, they were begging, so they are beggars. And, no one likes them approaching while we want to publicly 'enjoy a little' at restaurants, right? As if they're making you feel guilty for spending a little bit at restaurants. Di ba? But, crucify me if you must, dear readers, since I/we gave-in - and enjoyed their presence! Here's the story... While enjoying dinner (and beers) at an outdoor table of a restaurant in Astrodome, Tacloban, we witnessed this group of youngsters suddenly sing at a table next to us. We said " okay, fine " - since " Christmas Caroling " in the country is usually until 5JAN . Accompanied by a guitar and a cajón, they sang non-Xmas songs admirably well! We knew they would next hop to our table, so my driver prepared to challenge them. He asked them to sing a song he just sang at the video-oke, "You've Got A Friend" ! After he...

Feast of the 3 Kings caught me in Tacloban, with nothing to do tomorrow, whatever the reason was! So, me, a friend and my driver went to Astrodome for dinner & beer! Found this "new" place (that we knew was named something else before). Ah these restaurants & bars around Astrodome keep coming and going - since after Yolanda! This one is now named burp! with an exclamation. And we said let's try it! First attraction: their menu is not an "album". It's just a single page, and we liked it! Oh yes, there are people who don't like the 'complication' of so many choices. Kami! That chicken thing tasted 'standard', but the sauce was fantastic. Plus, I had this! Ribs w/ a sauce fit for Pinoys ( not too sour ). Driver had that too and agrees with me. My friend had pork belly and said it tasted good. I tried it, oo nga, malambot din! Proof? They asked for an "extra rice" each! Ako? di na kinaya, malaki yung kanin! We...

I have lately been passing by this rather new restaurant, so I had to check it out. Nothing much to shout-to-the-whole-world-about , I guess. I didn't hear it being hyped-up nor did/do I hear it in the Taclobanons' daily buzz . But for you and me who do not cook, yet already (virtually) a resident, any new resto or eatery is worth a peep, right? So, in I went on a Friday night, primarily just curious, though also looking for dinner. Well hmmm, the son-of-a-beach in me got somehow titillated by those waverunners and speedboats parked by the entrance path. Conversely, my driver didn't like it as it meant that he had to park our vehicle on the busy streetside of Real St. (Sagkahan)! In fairness to my driver, Real St. (Sagkahan), is (was?) part of the National Highway, and parking is not even supposed to be allowed on either side. But, this is Pilipinas! You park outside that fence, by the roadside! Anyway... I see that this restaurant is a dainty little place ...

Tacloban to Cebu again. I've done this many times before. But I'm not complaining - except that I'm running out of anything to tell about this portion of my trips. Or do I? What about this Tacloban Airport, again? I keep saying, "I think I have seen and said everything about this wretched airport" be it praise-wise or rant-wise. Eh, I've been using this 'ugly edifice' ever since I was a brat. But something that the Filipina candidate (in that recently-held Miss Universe thing) said, somehow left a mark in my head. She said something about "the silver lining"! And she won pa, di ba? So I said 'that's a great life-skill' . But can I apply that here? Let's practice and find out! Practice finding that 'silver lining' in this poor, deplorable, wretched, shameful situation; and see if it makes us feel any better. I suspect it will! Disappontment is after all just a product of our own appointment hehehe! Hmm, I...