Philippine Travel Notes

I thought you said “km 0” is the Rizal monument in Manila (Luneta). Then why is that ass sitting at a “km 0” that does not look to be anywhere near Luneta? Now now, calm down my dear cayvan (that means friend in Ivatan). Especially in this country, there are always exceptions to every rule! The topic we had in the previous entry is if and when you can travel by land from Luneta (e.g., to Pili, Camarines Sur). That 'ass', is sitting at the kilometer marker in front of the Batanes Provincial Capitol which, as we know, is an island way up north, right? That is one such exception. When the province, city or town is on a separate island, what becomes “kilometer zero” is usually the highest seat of government on the island. And in this particular example, it’s the provincial capitol of Batanes located in Basco. That is why you also see “B” and another “0” below the “KM” and “0” because he is sitting at zero kilometers away from Basco, Batanes. He is in the very heart ...

Every good trip has to end and there is always that reluctant goodbye. This was my case in Ozamiz. I was so slow in preparing to go and was indeed uninterested in going back to the airport hehe. But a zero-fare flight is a zero-fare flight, any attempt to extend it means thousands of pesos. So I took a trike and went for the Ozamiz Airport. Thanking the trike driver, this was it I told myself and I managed to merrily hop towards departure area. What I encountered next was an unbelievable sight I could not easily fathom. OMG! I silently asked myself “is this where I am going to check-in?, is this an airline? Is this an airport?”. My goodness, what an ugly sight. Entry requirements Together with other passengers, I had to present my ticket and ID to a guard by the perimeter gate OUTSIDE of the Airport and the queue was literally under the sun. My God! See that picture? Those were two passengers ahead of me presenting their documents to the guard. And to think they are “dressed” pa naman ...

Oro-what?! That’s what headquarters (a.k.a. my home) ‘aghastedly’ exclaimed when I called to tell them that I was heading for Oroquieta City! So I repeated that slowly “O-ro-kye-tuh”! Told them I thought I had enough of roaming Ozamiz City yesterday, so I decided to head northwards and see what might be worth my time there! The next question I heard was “where is that?”, and the best answer I could muster was “don’t worry, I heard that’s still part of the country, the Philippines, y’know?!” That reply was both meant to tell them “I don’t actually know for sure” and “I think it is a safe place, so calm down you all”! Ah families, we all have our own unique languages, right?! Well, WE have! Okay, my plan (which materialized just over breakfast at Royal Garden’s free wi-fi Veranda Restaurant) was: head north of Ozamiz City up until Oroquieta City ONLY. Reason: at least it is a city and from what I’ve read on the web, there is ample transportation to get back to Ozamiz if and when needed. ...

And the night has fallen. After a hefty dinner at La Veranda (that’s the Ryoal Garden’s restaurant), I asked around where I might be able to check-out a place that has/is a bar and live music. Initially, what the waiters offered were a number of sing-along joints (yep, karaoke). The “live” singing they meant was those of you who’d grab the microphone drop a 5-peso coin and croak with the music! I said, I was looking for a decent bar, yep with booze or beer, but not where just any trike driver or carpenter with a 5-peso coin can go up the microphone. I said I was looking for something like a live band, acoustic singers and so on. One of the waiters smiling said “aw”! Then they asked their colleagues and other folks and voila! They told me to look for “Gats Bar”. So I did! My trike ride going to Gats Bar was on a very familiar road. Of course, of course… hotel crews and trike driver told me the bar is somewhere near the city hall. So I anticipated that with excitement as I know the city ...

I thought I was done gallivanting, but it was still daylight and I wondered where else my itchy feet should go! “See their city hall” said my PDA’s rough notes. Ha, oo nga naman! How could I ever forget that! So, to their city hall I went! And wow! It’s a trike ride away from the fort (as anywhere else in the city actually). The city hall sits along a highway where tricycles are not allowed to just cruise along on some parts. So going there on trike is not a straightforward ride along that big road. The route has to pass some sidestreets and backstreets before emerging back in that highway and towards the city hall! Its too big for a city hall! While in most cases I would say that a city or town-hall is too small for its stature, this is one of the few that is the reverse. It’s a sprawling two-level building that looks more like a school than a city hall! Nice! But it’s a “morning building”, so I couldn’t get a good view as the sun was facing me. Plus, its always hiding! Yeah, their ci...

Done with the cathedral and the fort without much of an itinerary, I aimlessly wandered around just to see the rest of the city. Nice city! Transpo within Inside the city, transportation is generally via tricycles and pedicabs. They mix and mingle. They go wherever, ferrying passengers around the bustling city center. Oh, you got a car? Good luck! You'd be cruising the city streets as fast (or as slow) as the tricycles and pedicabs in front of you hehe! Remember Dumaguete? Its similar! I did notice, most of the tricycles and pedicabs in Ozamiz are generally slanting towards the back as if there was a heavy load. And I thought earlier in the day that the trikes I rode-on were actually defective! But this time I observed, they really are just so! Hmm, howsoever and whatsoever for, that makes their tricycles unique. A production anomaly? Probably, but well, at least there are trikes on earth that make you face the heavens while cruising hehe! Unique, though a bit uncomfy if you are r...

All those are in Ozamiz City, and yes, all are one and the same hehe! Had to go there as the hotel’s front desk staff told me it was a must-see. I am happy I did! What is it? Well, what else… a fort, built by the Spaniards against native pirates. The bastion of defense in those days. It is similar and reminiscent of Cebu’s Fort San Pedro, Zamboanga’s Fort Pilar and its namesake, the Fort Santiago in Intramuros. Their makes, sizes, purpose are very similar with a few characteristic identifiers. Let me describe this Cotta by mostly comparing and contrasting it to those other forts as indeed that’s just what came to mind as I roamed the place. Ha? What Fort San Pedro in Iloilo? It is just a name, a memory. Its been flattened long ago and what remains are chicken inasal vendors. So its out of this league! Location Near the sea and the port naturally. Except for Cebu of course! Because of various developments and “improvements”, Cebu’s Fort San Pedro is not anymore by the sea. Thanks to ins...