Philippine Travel Notes

A nice day.., a wonderful day indeed! We just came off the interesting Canigao Island and driving our way up to Ormoc, to call it a day. Not yet returning all the way to Tacloban this time, as tomorrow's "work-related work" starts from Ormoc! We (I mean my driver) were rushing on the road as it was nearly sundown, and Matalom to Ormoc is around a hundred kilometers, and we have a protocol to abide by.., "sun-up to sun-down only trips"! But I observed, the views along the way were fantastic with the golden "about-to-set" sunlight on this western side of Leyte. So I made a deal with the driver.., no stops but I could request a slow-down at important or extremely wondrous sights (sites too) along the way! Ang problema: there are too many! First fantastic sighting, not really my choice.., not a site or sight but an "incident" (in Bato, Leyte)! My driver honked quickly and softly as he tried to overtake that trike running slow in the...

This topic started with this article Bato. Oh stone! In Catanduanes is a town called Bato. But there are 2 other towns in this country with exactly the same name! Bato in Catanduanes is a little town to the southwest of this island-province and is just a few kilometers from the capital of Virac. But they have beaches and waterfalls – even a little island. Ironically, the other town of Bato is still in the Bicolandia – in Camarines Sur. This Bato sits just right in the province’s boundary with the province of Albay and hosts the Lake Bato. This town is near Iriga City. Facing the Ragay Gulf, this town also has white sand beaches, waterfalls, springs and caves. The 3rd town in this country also named Bato is farther away in the province of Leyte. There is a fantastic waterfall there called Dunjuban. Nearby is an island with interesting opportunities for diving and snorkeling. The reef seems still lush. Plus, this is where some of the boats and crafts take off going Cebu and Bohol. Ah yes...