Philippine Travel Notes

I thought you said “km 0” is the Rizal monument in Manila (Luneta). Then why is that ass sitting at a “km 0” that does not look to be anywhere near Luneta? Now now, calm down my dear cayvan (that means friend in Ivatan). Especially in this country, there are always exceptions to every rule! The topic we had in the previous entry is if and when you can travel by land from Luneta (e.g., to Pili, Camarines Sur). That 'ass', is sitting at the kilometer marker in front of the Batanes Provincial Capitol which, as we know, is an island way up north, right? That is one such exception. When the province, city or town is on a separate island, what becomes “kilometer zero” is usually the highest seat of government on the island. And in this particular example, it’s the provincial capitol of Batanes located in Basco. That is why you also see “B” and another “0” below the “KM” and “0” because he is sitting at zero kilometers away from Basco, Batanes. He is in the very heart ...

My Negros Oriental Tour: Municipality of Amlan I knew this would have been a very short ride from San Jose and I was ready to hop on any mode of transport except habal-habal as rain was on-and-off. But as I waited, the first that came was a Ceres so I flagged it and took the ride. Hmm, I think the fare was just five pesos. No wonder the conductor let out some kind of an exasperated sigh when I told him where I was going. I courageously (but in a friendly way) asked why he seemed disgusted. He sheepishly answered they expect to get passengers destined for farther destinations; that most of the time they skip those who look like they’re just going to ride a few meters down the road; that I looked like a backpacker destined for some far places like San Carlos! Ahhehehe! I laughed and told him I really was going there but have to pass by each town along the way! Ack! An ‘atrevida’ lolo with a cane and a ‘bodyguard’ beside him from across the aisle was listening… he butted-in asking (in Eng...