Philippine Travel Notes

I just thought they were cute-looking tricycles due to the color and shape. They look different from tricycles I've seen all over this country. Of course my mind flew back to far areas like Samar or Mindanao where I see many big trikes and wondered why they could not be as beautiful as these cute, colorful AND quiet little cabs roaming around the posh streets of Taguig’s Bonifacio Global City. Never did I think that these are actually already the e-trikes or electric tricycles so much celebrated about some years ago! Waking up alone in the flat one late morning, I discovered there was a lot of anything I wanted to eat except rice. Awrrr! So, to Market Market I had to go, and that got me a bit of excited. Why? Because, it was my chance to ride those beautifully colored trikes I have been observing for quite a while now. Yey! And ride I did. Just asked people on the street as to how/where and there I was, happily riding an E3 (that’s how some folks call it). Its not fast like a light...

My buddy said ‘this guy is too light-skinned for an igorot’. A companion joined in with ‘his physique does not seem to show he works in the farms, ang laki ng tiyan eh’! Then another said ‘baka politician yan or school supervisor’. But I was more curious about that thing in his right hand. And then… There it is, now transferred to his left, as if the plant could conceal what he is doing! Can’t that txtng wait until end of the parade? He is/was trying to represent/portray an indigenous people IN a grand parade and IN Manila – which is like or even more than a stage play. This float was one beautiful tableaux by the way (in concept that is). And all who participate in the Aliwan Fiesta are the best of the regions. Couldn’t the damn txtng have waited? Ah I went near to tell him just that hehe! Well, a friend pulled me away. I was supposed to add “you might as well also wear your rolex, your rayban, your rollerblades, and wear a baseball cap”! Oh well, when modernized folks of our times tr...

This topic started with this article There are two towns too and both are in the north! The first San Quintin is a mountain in the province of Pangasinan Region 1 – Ilocos). It is at the eastern edge of the province on the border with Nueva Vizcaya. High up in the Caraballos, of course this is a farming town but there is a resort with three swimming pools! Moving northwards, on the lower and western edge of Abra province by its border with Ilocos Sur is another town named San Quintin. There is the “footprint of Adam” and people believe it really is the footprint of a giant. The cool rivers and mountain views are still fantastic.

This topic started with this article San Juan. There are a total of seven in this country – 6 towns and 1 city! First of course is the famous city and the turf of the Estradas/Ejercitos – that is the City of San Juan right in the very middle of Metro Manila. Did you know it is almost the smallest in the metropolis? Well, Pateros is the smallest! Mind you, I dream of living in San Juan City because it is in the middle of everywhere and come to think of this, it is not as bustling as the other areas in the metropolis! Now San Juan is not all about Erap or Greenhills. There are more like the first battle between pinoys and the kastilas happened in this city that is why there is the Pinaglabanan Shrine. Hey, one of the few remaining boys’ school in the country (Xavier School) sits in San Juan. That school is managed by priests but that is where the son of a friend learned how to speak Chinese! Of course you all know that unless traveling in a closed vehicle, one must avoid any part of this...

This topic started with this article There are 8 towns and let’s be happy we’re counting just the towns and cities cuz if we included the barangays, there are hundreds of them named San Isidro! 1st is the town in the province of Isabela (Region 2). This San Isidro is a farming community though it has Santiago City as a neighbor. Going a little bit down to the province of Nueva Ecija is our 2nd San Isidro and it is also a farming community that touches the borders with Bulacan and Tarlac. You’d be happy to note that this San Isidro has for a very short while been the capital of the country. Yes, the capital of the Philippines! This town fares well in history. Remember the significance of The Grand Sideco House? Its in this town! Our 3rd San Isidro is a town in the island-province of Bohol (Region 7). This is actually one of its hinter towns not yet for the tourist, though starting to get discovered since its just an hour ride from Tagbilaran. Three rivers crisscross this town and I thin...

This topic started with this article Whoa! There are 7 towns! First is the town in Bataan (Region 3) sandwiched between Orion (on the south where you arrive via fast crafts from Manila Bay), and Balanga City (on the north). This Pilar town is of course where you find the famed and towering Dambana Ng Kagitingan – the cross-shaped building with a narrow and cranky elevator for you to get to the top! But oh my what an experience being up there! Next is a town on the northern part of the province of Sorsogon (Region 5) in its boundary with the province of Albay. Have you heard about the “astilleros” during the Spanish era? There is one in this town called Panlatuan. Then again, this town is right beside Donsol and you guessed it right – the whale shark interaction is your great find in this place! Third is another town named Pilar and that is in the easternmost tip of province of Capiz (Region 6) just bordering with the province of Iloilo. Not to be outshone by the two previous towns of t...

Well well well… who does not know Baguio?! The summer capital of the country, the place that let a thousand flowers bloom every February, the place where your mom and grandma would go for an AUV-full of vegetables so you end up eating ceasar salad from morning till night – in three consecutive weeks! Any more memories?! Yes, the ukay-ukay capital of the country – definitely with more choices than you have in all of Cubao and Aurora Boulevard, right? I cannot disagree. But for me, there are a lot of other (good or bad) things Baguio worth remembering! For now, let’s talk about the various ways on how we go up to this summer capital. Getting there Easiest is to take to the air and land at Loakan Airport, 4251 feet above sea level – which is actually still “below” the city of Baguio. Flights from Manila take less than an hour but you will need land transportation from said airport about 20 or so minutes to the city proper. Don’t worry, there are jeeps and cabs! For the commuters, most co...

This topic started with this article Proof that this country is home to peace-loving people? Whatever your view is, there are four towns in the country named La Paz – meaning “peace”. The first La Paz is ironically a town up in the province of Abra (Region 15 – CAR). Politically, this town (and the whole province) is not at all very peaceful compared to most others in the country especially during elections! Oh I even know someone who does not want to go there because the opposing factions in those political quarrels are all his relatives. The second La Paz is in the province of Tarlac (Region 3 – Central Luzon). This agricultural town is along the banks of the Chico River and borders Tarlac with Neuva Ecija. Being an agricultural town, bird-watching is fine here especially on the swampy areas – but alas, not even its own locales know or appreciate this kind of recreation yet! The third La Paz is in the province of Leyte (Region 8 – Eastern Visayas). It is an agricultural and landlocke...

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 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...

Whatever happened to your bottled water? It now comes in a 'mouthful size'? Ows?! As we voraciously gorged on our barbecues over at the freezing Abanao Square, we had to meticulously ‘examine’ the dear little bottle. Some ingenious dude cut the middle portion of the plastic bottle and re-attached the top and bottom portions so that it perfectly became a handy toothpick container. Clever indeed! Oh well, the wonderful signs of creativity in these our times…

This topic started with this article Bontoc. There are two! Just to the west of Bato, Leyte, is a little town called Bontoc! Yes, this is the little known (if not the unknown of the two Bontoc’s) and it is in the province of Southern Leyte. Probably because it sits back-to-back with Bato (in the west), this town also has a waterfall that might be worth a visit. But everywhere else is mostly plains for rice, corn and abaca plantations. Well, the more famous Bontoc, as many would know, is the capital town of Mountain Province high up in the heart of the Cordillera Ranges! Don’t miss their village museum managed by nuns. But of course, there’s no saying it any better, the rice terraces of Maligcong are just fantastic!

Literally! This broke my heart. Promise! We just came from a visit to the La Trinidad flower and strawberry farms and were driving our way back to Baguio City when I chanced upon this girl. I initially thought that was a Tagalog romance novel or a ‘songhits’ she was busy reading. Fortunately, my companions got attracted to the carrots in her stall. So we stopped and crossed the road (and I took this pic). When we got to her, she immediately closed the book and attended to my companions. I glanced and saw that it was a high school book on something like ‘social studies’ or something. We asked if she was a student. She replied that in fact she was getting ready for an exam at 1 o’clock that afternoon. Just waiting for her mother to finish lunch so she could start off for school. Ah! It was exactly 12:12PM when I took this photo. Oh well, the way it is to study in these our times…