Philippine Travel Notes

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 Have you been to Carmen? Carmen who?! Ha, there are 6 towns in this country that bears that name? Which came fist, the name of these six towns or the opera bearing the same title? We will know soonest! Curiously enough, these towns that bear the name Carmen are all in Cebuano-speaking places. First is the town of Carmen in the island province of Cebu (Region 7 – Central Visayas). Yes, the town is just about 40kms from Cebu city and just after Danao City! Oh yes, guns are still an industry in Danao, but thats a different topic hehe. Carmen in Cebu is a hub of small boat builders and the womenfolk weave sinamay. Well yes, there are caves and falls and that famous monastery up in the mountains. And of course, there is the M Lhuiller hacienda that you pass by going to the monastery. The next Carmen is a town right in the heart of the island province of Bohol. Yes, this town is your destination if you want to see and experience the Chocolate Hills. And w...