Philippine Travel Notes

This topic started with this article Bontoc. There are two! Just to the west of Bato, Leyte, is a little town called Bontoc! Yes, this is the little known (if not the unknown of the two Bontoc’s) and it is in the province of Southern Leyte. Probably because it sits back-to-back with Bato (in the west), this town also has a waterfall that might be worth a visit. But everywhere else is mostly plains for rice, corn and abaca plantations. Well, the more famous Bontoc, as many would know, is the capital town of Mountain Province high up in the heart of the Cordillera Ranges! Don’t miss their village museum managed by nuns. But of course, there’s no saying it any better, the rice terraces of Maligcong are just fantastic!

This topic started with this article Bato. Oh stone! In Catanduanes is a town called Bato. But there are 2 other towns in this country with exactly the same name! Bato in Catanduanes is a little town to the southwest of this island-province and is just a few kilometers from the capital of Virac. But they have beaches and waterfalls – even a little island. Ironically, the other town of Bato is still in the Bicolandia – in Camarines Sur. This Bato sits just right in the province’s boundary with the province of Albay and hosts the Lake Bato. This town is near Iriga City. Facing the Ragay Gulf, this town also has white sand beaches, waterfalls, springs and caves. The 3rd town in this country also named Bato is farther away in the province of Leyte. There is a fantastic waterfall there called Dunjuban. Nearby is an island with interesting opportunities for diving and snorkeling. The reef seems still lush. Plus, this is where some of the boats and crafts take off going Cebu and Bohol. Ah yes...

This topic started with this article So, how about Baras?! There are two! First is the town of Baras in the province of Rizal – not really that far from the metropolis. It has an ancient church, it kisses part of the Laguna Lake and is well known for being the home of the mighty Arnis and Sikaran martial artists. The other Baras is a town in the southeastern seaboard of the island-province of Catanduanes. It’s about an hour and a half ride from Virac. While still very rural, this town is a future tourist attraction. Beaches abound, the Abaca industry is starting to fuel up, plus artists and artisans have come forward that they extensively use or take advantage of the interesting products from this place! Then again, above all, surfing reigns supreme in this place as the best crowd-drawer!

This topic started with this article Still in the province of Aklan, northwest of Balete and about 9 kms south of Kalibo, there is a town called Banga. It’s just like Balete actually. Nothing to see there except that the main campus of Aklan State University is there. The university has a “stations-of-the-cross” with life-sized statues as you go up a hill called Manduyog. Period! Now its namesake is a town in the province of South Cotabato. Landlocked and situated in the very middle of the province, it is a big town being just next door to Koronadal City. Interestingly enough, most of its residents speak Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, a similar language spoken in Banga, Aklan!

This topic started with this article Have you been to Balete? No not that haunted place with a “white lady” in Quezon City, it’s just a street! There are two towns in this country that are named Balete. One is in the province of Batangas and has a panoramic front seat view of the Taal Volcano. It’s exactly across or the opposite end of Tagaytay so you have the flip view of Lake Taal and Taal Volcano! While your view of Taal Volcano from Tagaytay will be the setting sun illuminating the lake and the island, from Balete, the sun will make a dramatic silhouette of the volcano island. It is such a nice “other view”! Okay, so where is the other town of Balete? It’s farther down to the southwest in the province of Aklan. It’s a big town in terms of land area but it’s not big on the tourist map. It has one bank, one tailor shop, one dress shop, one dental clinic and 2 funeral parlors hehehe! No accommodations for the tourist there whatsoever and nothing to go wild about being there! Duuuu!

This topic started with this article Bacolod? Well, who would not know that it’s the city of smiles in Negros Occidental with an interesting and quite lovely Masskara Festival every October! Yes, indeed. But don’t raise your eyebrows if I told you that Bacolod is in the province of Lanao Del Norte in Mindanao and it kisses the tip of Iligan Bay! For indeed it is. The other town that is hehe! This lesser known Bacolod is a quiet little town but it has some nice little beach resorts and waterfalls that your Bacolod City does not have as its all urbanity. There is also quite a bit of history in this little town that can be reached from the cities of Iligan, Ozamiz or Cagayan De Oro. Now, now… is Bacolod town really in Lanao Del Norte or Lanao Del Sur? Ahh yes, there is also a Bacolod in Lanao Del Sur but its real name is Bacolod-Kalawi and that is the little poor town that kisses the Lanao Lake across from Marawi City. At times this little town is even called Bacolod Grande but I guess th...

Like in Manila, you can’t hail a cab at the arrivals area. Why? Still like in Manila, taxis are not allowed to go there! Why? Ah go ask any of your bright government authorities who are all politicians – meaning “public servants” during the election campaign, but quickly turn into self-appointed monarchs the day after they’re elected! Anyway, here are the options: 1) From the international luggage claim area, you should see a hallway to your right that connects to the domestic arrivals hall. Head there instead of going out to the international arrivals foyer. You will see an elevator on the right and hop in with your baggage cart. You are supposed to take this route if from your international flight you are connecting to a domestic flight that departs from this airport on the same day. Since arrivals is ground level, of course your elevator brings you up to the ‘next and only’ level which is the departure area. Upon emerging from the elevator (you are at departure level) going left is ...

This topic started with this article Now let’s go to Aurora. Yes, the name is of that venerable first “first lady” of this country and wife of then president Manuel L. Quezon. The most prominent “Aurora” is the province (her very own) – which naturally, rightfully and fortunately was named after her. She was from Baler which is one of the 8 towns of the province. This is one of the country’s surfing capitals second only to Siargao. Well, in the province of Aurora, there is a town named Maria Aurora. You’d think the people from that province can’t get enough of immortalizing her! But no, the town is not named after her. That name is after her eldest daughter Maria Aurora who died with her when they were ambushed in Nueva Ecija on their way to inaugurate the Quezon Memorial Hospital in Baler. Who were the culprits? Ironically, it was the HUKBALAHAP (Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon). Gosh! So where are the other Auroras? One is a town in the province of Isabela (Region 2) by its border with...