Philippine Travel Notes

The drive from Pilar to Alicia is about 20kms, or somewhere near that. It continues on vast rice fields, with a view of hills in the distance. However, at about 5kms before the town center of Alicia, the road starts a smooth gradual climb, and the hills start being nearer the highway. This is a picturesque road! Many of those hills and mounds are of the shape, size and topography of the chocolate hills. They are mostly devoid of big trees, but green with grass or shrubs. And, the road starts to undulate nicely too ! Then there is a "T Junction" where turning left is to Ubay, while turning right is to the center of Alicia. You will already see hints of the most famous Alicia attractions (yes, plural) - the grassy, tree-less hills that tourists hike to, for awesome panoramas of the surrounding lowlands. There are many such hills. Arriving into center of town, first to attract my attention was the municipal hall. However, the terrain in this area is so uniquely uneven my ...

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 ...