Philippine Travel Notes

In the previous story , we ended with the two icons I saw on the taxi dashboard, and I said: I was not sure if those were for two different Buddhist-based religions or not. Counting The Religious You probably already know that Vietnam is an Atheist country. That means majority of the population don't believe in a God, therefore not many have a religion. Ganoon! 74% of Vietnam say they don't have any religious affiliation. 14% practice Mahayana Buddhism. 10% are Catholics. The rest are a scattering of various sects and beliefs. But in Danang City with a population of about 1.2 million, only more than 6.3% have a religion. Catholics are the "maniest" at about 42,000 or 3.5% of the city population. Meaning: of Danang folks who say they believe in God, many of them are Catholics. Though in all Vietnam, Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) has the most number of Catholics. The Cathedral So yes there's Christianity, notably Catholicism ! Yes, in Vietnam. Oh ye...

After all the news, the craze and the fanfare about their return to Balangiga, after a little more than a century, by the Americans, I went to see these 3 bells, uncrowded! Now what? Hahaha, I don't know! They are bells, like many other old, historic or historical bells you see everywhere on earth. You and I knew, that upon return, they were not to be kept (again) in a box and forgotten for another century. They were/are to be used again or displayed forever . So, why was everyone (except for Balangiganons) so crazy about being there during the actual return/arrival of the bells? Because Duterte was there? Wheh! Para saan? I'm saying what I said above because... days ago, many friends, family, subscribers, colleagues kept asking where I was, why I was not there to see the bells, and so on. One said "lumipad pa kami galing Cavite, nakita naman namin, but we were not able to take photos w/ the bells, andaming tao, you could have guided us kung andito ka "....

Arrived ! And, I stealthily made my way out of that airport, while everyone was still busy with the arrival ceremonies. I knew where I was going, Bantayan. No no, not the island in Cebu heheh! Just a main (longest) thoroughfare of San Jose De Buenavista (SJDB). The arrangement was: to drop my bags at a hotel (I choose not to name it for now), because I was still very early, then come back at 12NN for check-in (overnight stay). Tricycles Fares Are Prominently Displayed It was even this hotel that taught me how to commute from the airport, via tricycle. I like cities that have transparent transportation fares, and that are strictly enforced. They're cities that seriously embrace honesty and fairness, that travelers love . Bawal ang nanlalamang na driver. That, is a mark of mature and progressive communities. There are not many of them in this country. I can even only remember Cauayan and Puerto Princesa. Now let's add San Jose De Buenavista, Antique. Worth emulating ...

In the last part of my previous post , I said I could already see the next tourist spot in the "walking day tour" itinerary prepared by my guide. Nope, I didn't previously know about it. I said I'll just follow her! As we went out of the post office , guide pointed to me the Notre-Dame Basilica Cathedral of Saigon . I told her to wait for me where she stood, as I walked to the opposite corner for this full façade picture! It's impossible to shoot landscape-oriented close-up pictures of the whole church since it's so tall for any phone camera. The best vantage is, unfortunately, from the very middle of that road intersection! So I had to be as far as the sidewalks of buildings opposite the church and park. But worth it, I guess! Can you identify that building at the right edge of the photo, beyond the white bus and the big trees? Yep, that's Saigon Central Post Office , where I came from. Aw, 'twas not an easy walk to where I stood! Let me te...

Done with the ' makalaglag-baga ' challenge that is Tinago Falls, we proceeded with my unique itinerary. How? Well, the 'commute tour' continued. And you'll see later (below), this just got even more exciting! From the "Iligan side" entrance/exit of Tinago Falls, my guide hired 2 habal-habals. They wait just near the little store. There are not so many like at the "Linamon side", but there are even tricycles and jeeps! This "leg" of our commute was a ride from Tinago Falls to Mimbalut Falls. Oh ha?! Falls nanaman! And I realized, the route goes out to the national highway, turning south towards Linamon. Again? Da! But it veers left here, at Brgy. Buru-un, Iligan City, before reaching the boundary (Linamon Bridge). As we turned left (where the jeep is), I saw that arch of the gate to an elementary school, which I think, is one of the, if not THE, longest elementary school name I have ever read in my long life! The name is: Sgt. ...