Philippine Travel Notes

“Hello ‘pre, I need your help, please” said the friend “Anytime as long as its not cash” said me, myself and I “Help me plan to propose, gusto ko nang pakasal". "Oh okay, yun lang pala", I said "And, I need your endorsement to fuego, please”. “Ha? what made you think I can do that?” said I hehe So went my conversation with a friend sometime ago. That reminded me, I haven’t yet shared a story about Punta Fuego. I really thought I have already blogged about this place. Only to find out there was none yet hehe. But as many say, “better late than never”! And here I go… It’s a wonderful place! There are not too many such places in this country. And if there is anything similar, this one, though already a bit old, still emerges one of the best. At least for me, in terms of location, amenities and nature’s endowments. I have been popping at this place many times for various reasons or purposes since the late 90s. Reason probably why some friends think I am a memb...

This topic started with this article There are two. And that is pronounced “tan-a-wan”. If you are a native English speaker, it sounds more like “tun-uh-one” One is Tanauan City in the province of Batangas (Region 4A – (CaLaBaRZon) and is situated at the northeastern corner of Taal Lake, Therefore this city partly also ‘owns’ Taal Lake and has good view of it. Heard of Apolinario Mabini? Well he was a native of this place, so there’s a museum and replica of his abode. Also try visiting the old municipal hall of Tanauan and discover wonderful things (its now their city museum). There are ancestral houses too, like those of the Laurels and the Almedas. But there are inland resorts too, plust, the wonderful views of the lake and island especially at sunset. Remember though, this is a city and there are industrial parks and industrial estates. The other Tanauan is a town in the province of Leyte (Region 8 – (Eastern Visayas). This town just south of Tacloban and Palo is gaining popul...

This topic started with this article There are officially 4 localities named Talisay. Talisay is a town in the province of Batangas (Region 4A – CALABARZon). This is that town just below Tagaytay City. Many folks don’t know that this is the mother town of Taal Volcano and a vast area of the Taal Lake. Who cares anyway, right? Hehe! They call themselves a resort-town owing to the mushrooming of such establishments generally along the areas with a scenic view of the lake and the volcano. Then there is the town of Talisay in the province of Camraines Norte (Region 5 – Bicol). A wonderfully sleepy farming and fishing town on the pacific coast of the province. Have you heard about Puente Isabel Segovia? Go there to learn what it really is! And then, there is Talisay City! It is located in the northwestern part of Negros Occidental province (Region 6 – Western Visayas). This one is just above Bacolod City, before Silay City. Don’t be fooled by these places in Negros all called “cities”...

This topic started with this article There are two also! First is the town of Santa Teresita in the province of Cagayan (Region 2). It is one of the northernmost towns in the main island of Luzon and is a farming fishing community. Then there is another town named Sta. Teresita, this time in the province of Batangas. This one touches the famous Taal lake and actually just beside the town of Taal. Farming and fishing (at the lake) are the main ‘events’ in this town but you’ll be surprised there are some folks here who grow a lot of game fowls. Yep, the cocks or roosters used in cockfights!

This topic started with this article St. Thomas of whatever… and there are 6 towns named exactly Sto. Tomas! Gosh! One is in the province of La Union (Region 1 - Ilocos). This is the northernmost Sto. Tomas and is well known for having pioneered in controlled / scientific production of the bounty from the sea. Thus you see a lot of dried fish on sale along the highway. There’s an interesting story about their patron saint – no, its not Sto. Tomas. And I like the municipal hall perched up on a hill. Another Sto. Tomas is in La Union’s neighboring province of Pangasinan (still in Region 1). This little town is down by the big river across Villasis and is at the province’s border with San Manuel, Tarlac. Ah yep, this is the town that purportedly just bagged a Guinness record for the longest barbecue – they grilled mainly corn. Further westwards is another town named Sto. Tomas in the province of Isabela (Region 2). This is the northernmost town named Sto. Tomas and it sits by the northwes...

This topic started with this article There are only two in this country but if you are in Metro Manila, both are south bound! One San Pascual is in the province of Batangas (Region 4A) which, being next to the city is aptly a suburb dominated by Chevron and First Gas! But while the town may seem commercial and industrial, try checking out La Hacienda. It’s a different kind of weekend high, a cool place to relax and learn about farming especially the fun part – harvest! Down in Masbate, our second San Pascual is the upper half of Burias island. It is made more famous by a little island to its north called Sumbrero. The turtle sanctuary is quite a paradise!

This topic started with this article This is St. Nick, right?! Ah there are three in this country! Our first town named San Nicolas is way up in Ilocos Norte. I call that town a “suburb at a crossroad” and I wonder why it is not a city yet. It soon will be, I predict! A very progressive town, every time I pass by it, something new seems to have sprung open! Going down to the southern province of Ilocos is another town named San Nicolas, in the province of Pangasinan. It is a town of waterfalls and soldier history as it is in a mountainous area leading up to the Caraballos and that big dam over at San Roque. Lastly, there is another town named San Nicolas down in the province of Batangas. Ah this town is divided in two – one part is on mainland, just below Tagaytay, while the other part is actually the southwestern half of Taal Volcano! Simply, this town is the least known way to cross and go up the crater ridge or crater lake of Taal Volcano. Everyone passes via Talisay but from here, ...

This topic started with this article There are four towns in the Philippines named San Luis. First, the town of San Luis in Pampanga is a historic one. It has a big ancient church and all its 17 barangays are named after saints! The boss of the HUKBALAHAP movement purportedly is from this town and in the early times (actually until now) this is the domain of the Elizalde businesses! Far to the east still in this region is another town of San Luis in the province of Aurora and one of its biggest actually. There are springs, falls, beaches and a beautiful bay. This is the resort town that welcomes you on your way to Baler. Our 3rd San Luis is a town in the province of Batangas and is also a resort town with diving facilities though not very popular on the list of people from the metropolis. Then there is the landlocked town of San Luis far down south in the province of Agusan Del Sur (Region 13 – Caraga). Hop in there for genuine tribal rituals during the planting and harvest seasons. Ra...

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 San Jose! We all know of course that San Jose is the Spanish name of St. Joseph. And, be very specific if your destination in the Philippines is San Jose. This is the mostest in terms of same-name towns and cities. There are twelve! Ready? Well, there are just 9 towns all named literally San Jose, but plus, there is a town named San Jose De Buan, there is the city of San Jose in Nueva Ecija and there is the city of San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan. For whatever its significance maybe, seven of these are in Luzon, four are in the Visayas and only one is in Mindanao – the northern part that is, and still very near to Visayas! Let us start with the city of San Jose in Nueva Ecija as it is the northernmost San Jose. This city is not the capital of the province but is in the heart of the rice granary of the country with vast plains! Like the rest of the province, rice of course is the main produce in this area. However, they have recently risen to be the nu...

Still in Taysan, Batangas and all of a sudden we heard a merry beating of drums. I ran towards the window thinking it was the town’s fiesta parade. No it was not. There was this group of dancers clad in costumes like most do in the Sinulog, Ati-atihan or Dinagyang. I watched a while. Even went down the street for a closer look. Soon after they danced, somebody from the house gave them money. Then they went to front of my friend’s house and danced too. I closely watched the friend who fished a hundred peso bill and gave it to the group. Then they moved to the next house, and so on… I asked what that was for. The friend casually answered “Sinulog”. That got me very confused since I was off to Cebu in a few days after this for the real Sinulog and I know it does not happen like this. So he explained, that those people (they were not just little kids, did you notice?) go around town to “entertain” you and your visitors. They expect to receive something in return, usually money. And I said ...

That is Taysan, Batangas. I went there with an officemate as it was fiesta time in their place. And while we were enjoying the breeze at his newly built concrete porch to let the rain pass before we head out, down came this brightly colored insect and stayed on the concrete floor for as long as we cared to watch it. Am not really sure if I have seen anything as bright green as it is. I probably already did during my younger years, but since I cannot vividly remember that color, I watched it a bit and even took this photo. This insects looks exactly like those brown beetle that we used to play with (beetle fights, remember?) when we were kids. Ah yes, very similar too to those beetles that my grandma and aunts used to fry back in Bangued. The thing is, all of them beetles I have seen (or attempted to eat but chickened out) were colored brown to dark brown. This one just stands out. Those tiny shiny spots are water droplets as the insect probably got soaked in the rain. Would I have seen...

This topic started with this article Who or what is Rosario? Whatever that word means, there are 5 towns in the country named Rosario. First is the town in the province of La Union (Region 1). This Rosario is the province’s southernmost town in its border with Pangasinan – thus, many of its residents actually speak both Pangalatok and Ilokano! While like any coastal town in Pangasinan and La Union, you can find a lot of dried fish here, note that export quality wood furniture and furnishings are the best products to find in Rosario. This town lies in one of the approaches to Baguio. The next Rosario is a little town in nearby Cavite Province (Region 4A). This Rosario which is just about 30 kilometres or so from the Metropolis and kissing the Manila Bay is host to an export/economic zone. So it is more of industrial town than anything. Okay, there are resorts there but you’d rather go elsewhere, right?! Then our 3rd Rosario is still inside Region 4A, in the province of Batangas. This on...

This topic started with this article There are four towns and those are in regions 1, 4, 7 and 11! In the western part of Pangasinan, Mabini is a landlocked town. It takes the backseat from virtually all of its neighbors which are coastal towns from the South China Sea to the Lingayen Gulf. At least there is a cave system! In the southwestern part of Batangas, Mabini is interestingly at the tip of a peninsula that divides two interesting bays – the Batangas and Balayan Bays. This town’s name is easily remembered by the word “Anilao” – the most famous and readily accessible dive site in the country. This resort town has a very long list of dive/picnic/private resorts! Down south in Bohol, Mabini is a sleepy town east of the island and has its share of caves, beaches and islets. This is part of the island that is yet off the beaten tourist tracks though I suspect not for long. Just take my case, I hopped into this Mabini coming from Leyte! Further south in Compostela Valley is our last t...

This topic started with this article There are two towns under this name. Lemery is a town in Batangas province (Region 4A – CALABARZON) and adjacent to the city of Tagaytay. Lemery is where you go to see the Disney imitation called Fantasy World. And the famous “Leisure Farms Tagaytay” is not in Tagaytay but in Lemery. Oh yes, this Lemery has its share of beaches but they’re not the to-die-for type. Now the other Lemery is in the province of Iloilo (Region 6 – Western Visayas). It’s on the northern portion in the province’s border with Capiz where both provinces are disputing their boundary markings hehehe! Their Saug Festival is a fine spectacle.

This topic started with this article Have you been to Balete? No not that haunted place with a “white lady” in Quezon City, it’s just a street! There are two towns in this country that are named Balete. One is in the province of Batangas and has a panoramic front seat view of the Taal Volcano. It’s exactly across or the opposite end of Tagaytay so you have the flip view of Lake Taal and Taal Volcano! While your view of Taal Volcano from Tagaytay will be the setting sun illuminating the lake and the island, from Balete, the sun will make a dramatic silhouette of the volcano island. It is such a nice “other view”! Okay, so where is the other town of Balete? It’s farther down to the southwest in the province of Aklan. It’s a big town in terms of land area but it’s not big on the tourist map. It has one bank, one tailor shop, one dress shop, one dental clinic and 2 funeral parlors hehehe! No accommodations for the tourist there whatsoever and nothing to go wild about being there! Duuuu!

Boarding time Boarding call came at exactly 2:42AM! Upon the boarding announcement via a low-grade P.A. System – which was even hard to understand, people in various levels of sleepiness rushed to the gate like bees to a hive – or even like dogs in a mad scramble for a piece of meat! We wondered why, but just as well, we joined in that mad scramble, shoving and pushing our way to be able to present our tickets to the gate steward like everyone else! Here was an orderly boarding sequence where there were probably nine lines that approached the gate-keeper! Oh gracious! Emerging from the gate – which actually means being out of the building and on to the pier’s pavement, we excitedly took pictures here and there, took video shoots in the dark and just enjoyed the leisurely walk towards the boat. It was about a hundred meter or so walk. Probably even more! As we approached the boat (and another steward of Montenegro Shipping Lines who checked our tickets) an old lady came up to me to ask ...

Not wont to ruin our trip, we tried to find things to amuse us as we waited for the next boat to Abra De Ilog – scheduled at 3AM! Yes, 3:00 o’clock in the morning. And we were standing at this godforsaken pier about 3-hours too early because of... this ! After buying our tickets for the 3AM ride, we went out of the pier to grab something to eat. And we saw that many of the little eateries (carinderias) lined outside the pier were open. Some had their karaoke machines blaring voices from drivers, pier employees, hawkers and vendors in varying degrees of “acceptability” and/or “abhorability”! We picked a small carinderia fronting the main path that leads to the pier’s building which fortunately was at least some distance to the karaoke singers lest we puke at the din torturing our ears. We tried “dinner” with longsilog, sinigang and dasilog. We capped the meal with three each of bananas and I couldn’t make all the momentous events from the past 5 hours without grabbing a can of SanMigLig...

Together with the friend who introduced me to the idea of going to Pandan Island, and another of our common friends, we took an 8pm bus from that devil-infested bus company with a station in EDSA (between Timog and Kamuning) that is the JAM/Tritran bus liner. Now my blood is starting to boil upon writing that sentence! [New Edit: If you have not yet done so, check-out my other story here and you will know the reason why.] Anyway, we wanted to catch the 1AM midnight ferry from the noisy-hot Batangas Pier to Abra De Ilog (a port town in northern Occidental Mindoro). This would have allowed us a 4AM “less-dusty” dawn-time bus ride to Sablayan where we could have caught the fresh sea produce at the market by 7AM. No thanks to the JAM/Tritran bus, this did not happen. We arrived at the Batangas pier about 30 minutes before 1AM (almost a 5-hour ride from EDSA). We ran as fast as we could to the check-in counter for the midnight boat to Abra De Ilog wondering as we breezed through why the us...

This place is an inevitable headache that one must endure on the way to Calapan, Puerto Galera or the western Mindoro destinations. Expect these: Upon getting off the bus or whatever kind of land transportation you come in, you’ll be accosted by a crowd of hawkers who will pester you with their wares – generally foodstuffs that they themselves advertise as “pasalubong”. How the hell can you be looking for pasalubong when you are just on your way to your vacation? Bad trip! And mind you, they do not just yell at you for their various kakanin but they will thrust those, right to about a few centimeters of your nose or eyes. And they will follow you wherever you go – even into the comfort rooms – literally! One would think it a relief that the Batangas government or whoever is in charge in that place have fenced off their newly built building that will soon serve as a “grand” port. So, those noisy vendors will drop from your ears when you enter the fenced off area going towards the check-...