Philippine Travel Notes

Maximize the roaming. Optimize the sightseeing. Only home is for resting. That is almost already a motto among all my travel friends. This trip, was a great example. We literally just dropped our bags in our room at Casa Rosario, then immediately & excitedly went out for a 'come what may' stroll around. Come what may as in no itinerary, no guide, no bucket-listed things to see or do. Many travel agencies call this "free time", but we prefer to call it a come what may time . Just go explore! Like any group on tour though, we did set our little not-so-strict boundary, and that was: let's avoid this afternoon, those that we'll be going-to in the next 3days unless there's no other option. Hindi rin nasunod , rules are made to be broken! Like this: at Casa Rosario we asked ourselves "kaliwa o kanan?" . Our unanimous choice was kanan , so we walked that way hahaha! Oy, we could hear Sinulog music (drums and bugles) from inside the cam...

More than 1 hour of waiting for my friends to arrive from Manila. I could have already gone to our hotel, actually - as I know the way, and they know that too. We're not 1st-timers here. But, usapan is usapan . Plus they were coming in on 2 separate flights. The first one to arrive might go crazy that I'm nowhere to be found. Plus, mas mura ang taxi pag tatlo kami. Plus, 'masaya kung sama-sama'! So.., I had to wait. Unfortunately, that waiting area across Cebu airport's arrivals be it international or domestic is a boring place to be. Seldom can you sit as there are only a few old chairs; nothing to do, other than stand & inhale vehicle fumes, only! So... namasyal! I went up via stairs to the taxi loading area. See?! I immediately saw a "scene" to exercise my analytical (a.k.a. 'atrevida') mind: a "tolda"! Yes, that green tent! Obviously, an attempt of the airport management to make your arrival a bit more bearable - ...

It's a turboprop! This is a small 'turboprop' plane - for only 72 passengers. I like it just the same. I say this because, many F&F (family and friends) are not keen about flying with "propeller planes". Some are even frightened at just the thought of it haha! Sus kayo, and this one by the way is even still 'brand new' - just about 4 months old with this airline, straight from the factory. They (that means you my dear F&F) had a lot of horrified comments about that flight I took last October (from Cebu to Cark). I say again, it's safe. Incidentally, this was that very same plane - and it was only 1 month old that time! Yup, that was my flight boarding 20OCT2008. But let's do this blow-by-blow from the start. More airport-related sights & scenes muna This Cebu Pacific Flight 5J 161 boarded early. I opted to board last, since I was still "looking around" this New Iloilo Airport - uzi sero baga! And there was o...

I 'experienced' this new airport two times each (arrive, transit, depart) in a matter of 3 days, and I must say now, part of me likes it and another version of me does not! Well, if looks were to be my basis, its beautiful. That is, if compared to the old airport at Manduriao, abaaw ah, this new airport is clearly more 'fantastically fantastic'! However, it's not in Iloilo City anymore. This airport sits (more than 20kms from the city), between the towns of Sta. Barbara and Cabatuan. Thus, going to or coming from it, is quite a ‘travel’ in itself. Meaning "extra time" and "extra expense" for us travelers - kay layo-layo gid! But what else can you and I do? It's already there. Let us live with it (hipos na lang kag enjoy) , until authorities decide to make another one, who knows where heheh! Anyway, happy I was able to experience this airport, at almost 2 years after inauguration by that little woman ! Friday Arrival I flew into ...

So we thought this “revolution” would have been a great convenience for travelers? Indeed it is! But there are some quirks we the traveling public must note and get used to. First up, it is not totally electronic as you might have thought – even if you booked yourself via the internet. Why? Well, in the past you used to bring your ticket purchased from the airline or travel agent. Those tickets were very thin and just about 6 inches by 4 inches big. You used to slip those tickets in the pages of your travel book or any paperback, right? Now with the electronic ticket, you bring your printout of the electronic booking – and that printout usually comes in a bond paper 8.5 x 11 inches in size. And many of us do print and bring everything sent to us via email including those policies, terms and conditions. So it’s much cumbersome these days hehehe! But why do we need to bring printouts to the airport instead of just presenting our IDs and memorizing a booking reference? Well, the guards wi...

Yes, that’s plural! Funny how two churches could sit almost right beside each other. Well, not literally side by side as they seem to have been built at an angle from each other. Though their entrances converge on one street. Gosh, I thought the St. Joseph Parish and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Immaculate Concepcion in Zamboanga City were too near each other. I also thought it was weird for Cebu’s Metropolitan Cathedral to be just a short block away from the Basilica Minore Del Sto Nino. So there I was, wondering all the more, how come churches big as these are beside each other? Am not sure what brought me to this area in Sta. Mesa. Probably this was the time I accompanied a friend to have his license renewed at the Professional Regulation Commission’s offices in Manila. I have been to Bustillos years ago when I was just a boy who would jump out to tag along when mom would go anywhere. And I think she had friends who lived in this area. I think I may have even entered one or both...

Down at the south-eastern corner of Quezon City’s Timog Ave. cor. Scout Torillo is one place called Faustino’s Sizzler Bar & Grill, that came to my/our consciousness for the 1 st time , ever. Last night, as in kagabi lang. I mean, I/we pass/ed here often, as in at least twice each month - since 1998, 'til last month. It's a hip place anyway, amid the frenzied 'nite life' (restobars, cafes, etc.) on the Timog strip. Therefore, worth telling you fellow wanderers! Late Find or New Find? I cannot decide, for I don't really know just yet! Have they been on this corner long ago? Or, is this new? I have to ask around. If you know, pls tell me! How I/We Found It A friend and I happened-by, one late Saturday evening (kagabi yon), after roaming @Manila. We were on our way home and decided to go for a nightcap. We just came from noisy party place s , so we were determined to find a more 'sober' joint – if ever we could find one in QC. C...