Philippine Travel Notes

My Negros Oriental Tour: Municipality of Pamplona Why did I ever use that word ‘prowl’?! Well, maybe because Pamplona starts with the letter ’p’. But yes, I could say that I prowled Pamplona hehe. I like the word today, just today hehe… it has leanings towards suspense thrillers and law and order. But my visit to Pamplona was nothing of that sort. In fact, this quiet little hinter town was almost creepy as I saw just a few human beings. Rainy day, that’s why! Everyone in town was probably huddled at their bedrooms and here was a nothing-to-do idiot of me prowling the poblacion. Ahehehe! Entering town, first that I saw was their municipal building. Its not much in size but I think its just enough for the town’s administrative needs. Compared to other buildings or houses in its surroundings, it does look imposing enough. And am not so sure but I think this municipal hall is already the tallest in town hehe – at least those that I saw. Oh, am sure they don’t have (yet) a separate fire dep...

My Negros Oriental Tour: Tanjay To Pamplona Trip Remember that street corner in the picture? Well, yes I took my ride from there, not on a Ceres but alone in a motorcycle. I surmised it would not take long as I learned its just less than 8 kilometers. A trike (lower left of pic) with a youngish driver tried to get me for a one-way special ride at P75. I said no and I would just wait for a bus or jeep. He told me that could take a long wait. I said his fare was expensive and I could not afford it. He tried again at P70. I still shook my head… in my mind that would be P10 per kilometer. Hmm, not that I couldn’t afford it, but part of traveling responsibly (so I learned from my father many years ago) is to pay a commensurate or fair price, so that them service providers don’t get used to overpricing. The ‘catch’ is, if they’re able to rip one with a steep fare, they’ll do it with another, and another, until the price of everything becomes sky high. See?!! Am a responsible citizen hehe. So...

This topic started with this article Like many other towns, the name takes its origins from the Spanish colonizer. You’d be right to notice that almost every town in this country has its namesake in either Spain or Mexico! On Pamplona, there are 3 towns in the country. One is in the province of Cagayan (Region 2) at the tip of the main island of Luzon. This farming and fishing village being a confluence of two settlements has two patron saints. Interestingly, this town’s residents also speak in two dialects (Ilocano and Ybanag). I call this place the town with the red church and an orange belfry - for that is what tickles my memory! Theres a big river and swamps and mangroves. Their beach is not white but quite a place too! The next Pamplona is a town in the province of Camarines Sur (Region 5). This is an agricultural town on the western side of the province and near the Ragay Gulf. Hmm, aside from having passed by this town many times, I never got to have a quick go-see yet. The 3rd...