Philippine Travel Notes

The joyride continues! This time I went to Valencia. Still in Bohol, yes. Because there are three in this country - two towns both in Region 7 (Central Visayas) and a city in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao)! From Garcia-Hernandez , we started backtracking on my way back to Tagbilaran, passing by all towns along the way, to complete my planned route since yesterday, visiting all the southern towns of Bohol. I was excited to see this town, but, that excitement was immediately crushed on arrival. Argh! That's the Sto. Niño Parish Church of Valencia, Bohol - the one thing that got me excited to be in this town. It was closed! On a Monday mid-morning? How cruel to an aged roamer that is me myself and I ! On hindsight, we should've visited earlier, instead of going straight to Garcia-Hernandez - as there are early morning masses (usually). It most likely would've been open. Ayayay, bigo ang aking kamahalan! Anyway, I continued listening to my guide who told me that thi...

This was planned. That I would not return from Malaybalay to Cagayan De Oro, but proceed instead to Davao City for another dinner-meeting (bisyo na 'to!), before flying back to Cebu, then to Tacloban. But I was not at all concerned as I have done this 'overland' trip before. There are even 2 known ways - via Kapalong and Tagum (5 to 6 hours) or via Kitaotao and Marilog (4 to 5 hours) - both panoramic roads. I was taking the shorter route, as I heard the highway was already spruced up and can be faster. Not that I was in a hurry, but hearing that a road has lately been repaired means it is (probably) also safer. Anyway, let's take off from my last paragraph in the last article . What did I see that "stirred my sanity"; that it even prompted me to hurry back to the hotel in a tricycle instead of finishing my morning walk? It was this bus terminal.., where too many people kept running from bus to bus.., chaotic! There were too many passengers, many were sta...

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 ...

My Negros Oriental Tour: Forest Camp It’s a nice forest park that has a conscious effort to minimize disturbing nature with modern infrastructures. So there is less metal or cement in their structures and facilities. A very good family getaway, I must say. I went there for just a peep… and by nature’s will, the camp became my sole destination further up the hills from the town center of Valencia hehe! Well, I can’t complain. At least there are bits more that I can look forward to seeing on my (hopefully) future visits. Hey, before I proceed and before I forget, there are still nature sights in the hills surrounding Valencia, yet, this town was purportedly declared the most progressive locality in the province. Second is Bayawan and third is Dumaguete! Its probably because of the many foreigners who married Filipinas and are now starting to build their abodes and businesses there. Well, good for them… let’s just hope this town will sustain that progressive development by at the same tim...