Philippine Travel Notes

Lakeside View of Marawi Ground Zero after the siege Let's start with that last picture  I posted in the previous blog entry . That was as we crossed this bridge to enter Lanao Del Sur. Seconds prior to that though, I already took a pic of the river, even if carelessly. I did that to remind me later, that that's Pantar Bridge over the Agus River in Saguiaran , Lanao Del Sur. This river was/is a vital component of the history/story of Marawi . As an only outlet, Agus River flows from Lanao Lake to Balo-i Lake , to Tinago Falls , to Maria Cristina Falls , until it reaches the Iligan Bay . The start-point of this river, is in fact the very same place that we are not being allowed to cross today, because of the announcement, that something exploded at a canal in the city, early this morning. Sus! I wished we could just float on that river all the way to Marawi so as to avoid the checkpoints hahaha! Since our driver saw me taking that photo above, he educated me that wh

Excited? Naah... not really, but okay lang! There are times in my travel life where it starts with all the excitement, then suddenly falling flatly soo uninteresting, that I wish it could get canceled, or that lightning strike me hard, so I do not have to go! That was exactly what I felt going on this trip to Marawi. Bakit Why How? Ganito... One day, I received word from a Lt. Reliable Source that some pre-cleared, pre-identified personalities that included me and a friend from an NGO were being allowed to enter a specific area of Marawi City, under very strict pre-conditions, and only under the guidance (and control) of Lt. Reliable Source. Yea! Excitement was a gross understatement. I was ecstatic I immediately contacted the two personalities who were given that special privilege. With Lt. Reliable Source, we all agreed on a date of visit - today ! As if nothing else was important in my life, I prepared for this day , I booked my tickets early, followed all other pre-conditi