Philippine Travel Notes

Let’s talk town and city names in the Philippines. Yes, many a first-timer can easily get lost without properly checking or asking around where a town or city is. Often though, the getting lost or confusion stage occurs during the planning of a trip. Research and the ever reliable “asking around” do get us to realize exactly which place we are headed to. Did you know there are more than 120 names in this country that are used by two or more towns or cities? That is counting only those places with exactly the same names! There are still others with the “sounds like” or “seems like” status. Here’s a sample conversation: Me : Yo, we just entered the NLEX and should be there in two hours. Friend : Gosh! You don’t have to fly on the road. Me : Oh San Fernando is just near, can we meet at SM or Robinsons? Friend : Ha? There is no SM nor Robinsons here, ano ka ba? Me : Di ba pagka-exit sa tollway ng San Fernando Friend : ‘Tado, that’s San Fernando City in Pampanga, my house is in La Union Me ...

More for the nature lover than anyone else, this group of islands is a sight to behold. More appropriately, I can say that this group of 124 islands is sure to offer you at least one sight to behold! Yes, you can easily find a group of another 124 islands (or more) anywhere on the globe, even right here in the Philippines. But the allure of the 'Hundred Islands' is like no other. For one, the islands are relatively close to each other that roaming around (and in them) is truly exhilarating. Not that the place is great like Boracay or Coron, but the beauty of these group of islands is perhaps what is not in Boracay or Palawan… “solitary confinement”! Yes, you can wallow in an island of your choice alone. Where are they? From many a website, we learned that this place is up on the north-western part of Pangasinan province. It is just a few kilometres (by boat) across from the city of Alaminos. And there are two main approaches to Alaminos – one being the usual route from Man...