Philippine Travel Notes

So! End of my Surigao Del Sur sojourn, and I was at the airport on time and in time for my flight to Cebu! Before entering the small airport though, I stood at this corner for my 'ceremonial' last stick! I'll agree if you say it looks like one or many domestic airports in the country. That's their usual style. Same position, I just had to turn a little.., and I had my final glimpse at the Tandag City Hall! I'm not sure if there is any existing or foreseeable significance (or advantage?), but I was amazaed to find here, that the city hall is right across the air terminal! Is this a first in the Philippines? Well, maybe. I was not done gazing at the city hall when I heard the sound of a plane passing above me.., No doubt the Cebu Pacific plane from Cebu. And I saw porters / drivers hastening to their positions. I went inside na, as this is a small plane where after disembarkation, boarding immediately follows! That door farther to the end, that has 'some'...

Do you ever even know where that is? No its not that swanky place at the intersection of EDSA and South Super Highway! This Magallanes is a town next to Butuan City (going northeast to the sea) and at the mouth of the big river. What made me go there? Just to see what the town has since it claims to have been the site of the very first Catholic Mass in Mindanao. Plus, it is the location of the purported oldest tree standing in the country. Going there I already knew from www that the best way to go to Magallanes was by boat, so I asked around where I could find those boats. Lucky me, from my rolling tour yesterday, I learned that the Philippine Ports Authority area which is where the boats depart from is just near Luciana Inn. It’s an easy trike ride away but I opted to walk the distance (just about 600 meters) along the side of the river. It is not really a “port” or even a “wharf” as you would see in most places. It is more of a park by the bank of a river! There is no bustling human...

This topic started with this article Oh Magellan! There are three towns that takes on the name of this Portuguese discoverer. Magallanes town in Cavite (Region 4A – CALABARZON) is in the southern portion bordering with Batangas and is mainly an agricultural town. There is a waterfall and a forested area that might be good for adventure trekkers. Next is Magallanes town in the province of Sorsogon (Region 5 – Bicol). This town sits at the lower mouth of the Sorsogon bay. It does have its share of falls, springs, mountains, beaches and resorts but not yet too trodden by the common tourist. The third of these Magallaneses is a town in the heart of Agusan Del Norte (Region 13 – CARAGA) along the shorelines of the Bulusan Bay. This is a fishing village, thus, beaches are aplenty. There is of course a historical marker of Magellan since the town derives its name from that discoverer. But don’t miss the “centuries-old” tree still standing at Barangay Caloc-an where some people claim was the “...