Philippine Travel Notes

Even if it kept raining and cloudy dark, I still enjoyed the sights as we entered Sogod. I relegated the choice of overnight accommodation to my driver who had been in this town many times before. But, I got a bit worried when we were already past the town center still driving. So, reminded him saying "sa'n tayo papunta? dito tayo matutulog ha?" But his reply was "relax lang sir, me alam ako magugustuhan mo, nasa tabing dagat eh"! So we arrived at this place called "Syshore Beachfront Hotel"... Hmm, entrance and facade considered, promising! He proceeded to check us in, I went to check-out something I saw next door (left of this fence), a 'restobar and grill'! Story here . When I came back, of course I took a closer photo of the hotel's name. This... Judging from the faded colors and materials, this thing is not new. Well, if there is still that "star" up there when today is already July, plus, if my driver has been here bef...

A nice enough joint for a cool nightout - I could imagine most especially during the dry breezy summers. This place has got a long name: "Kimberly Garden Grill and Resto Bar". I peeped-in to check the place out, as my driver went inside Syshore to check us in hehe! This is just beside Syshore Beachfront Hotel, the hotel where I stayed overnight. This was actually the first thing I saw as we approached the hotel. Signage on the side of the street is clear, but you still walk or drive going inside to a wide lawn before you reach the building. I thought this was part of the hotel or had the same owner. But they're not. Those two pictures above, I snapped them when the place was not yet open... But how convenient. After my hefty dinner at Syshore, I just had to walk next door for some music and drinks, and see the Sogod night crowd hehe! Unexpectedly fun place. Look! And compare this to the first photo above. It's the same place but cooler at night! See the left edg...

So good? Uhm, well, not so good! Part of my stay was so good in Sogod, but I have not seen many things, so part of the visit was not so good. So, good? Well, good. Okay ra gud! I arrived at this town from the south (Saint Bernard) unfortunately under uncooperative skies of intermittent rains, thunderstorms, with few snippets of the sun about to set. So, bitin! The following day (kanina yan), I over-enjoyed lazing by the seashore, and forgot roaming the town center. Then I had to rush so I can follow my itinerary. So, not so good! The sky muddled my 'yesterday'. Oh ha, at least I have the weather to blame hehehe! Anyway.., Approaching town center, we passed by vast areas planted to rice. I knew these must have been beautiful sights. But heavy clouds and heavier downpours seemed to be just following us from Liloan! Like this picture, I made this 95% brighter via a photo editing app, because it was just unacceptably too dark. I made that brighter na, take note hehe! At lea...

This topic started with this article Well, there are just two towns sporting this name. But their proximity adds to the confusion! First is the town of Sogod in the province of Cebu (Region 7 – Central Visayas). Alegre? Borussia? Budbud Cabog? Those are terms very easily associated with this town. There are also caves, rivers, waterfalls and other beach resorts aside from Alegre. But one interesting thing in this town is the meeting of ‘black and white’! Yep, this is where the dark-sand beaches end (from south of town) and the white-sand beaches starts (towards north). Oh, at one elementary school, there is what they call “astronomical platforms” which they say was used as ‘international astronomical observatory post’ during a solar eclipse of 1929! Ah, don’t miss the Panagsogod Festival! Then there is a town also named Sogod in the province of Southern Leyte (Region 8 – Eastern Visayas). As many would know, due to its proximity, most people from Southern Leyte gravitates more tow...