Philippine Travel Notes

This topic started with this article There are two cities. Yes, two cities! The first San Carlos is a progressive city in the province of Pangasinan (Region 1 – Ilocos). This is one of the four cities in the province and right in the heart of the province. Ironic for a city to sport a rural kind of product but aside from the usual Bangus (as in most of Pangasinan), this city is actually the source of many things bamboo! You can find many stores or businesses that offer products made out of bamboo – from your little table wares to furniture and even bamboo houses all on sale! Oh yes, mangoes are still aplenty in this city and they claim they have the most delectable of mangoes. Who does not? hehe Now the other San “Carlos City” is a city on the northeastern region of the province of Negros Occidental (Region 6 – Western Visayas). Ah yes, looking at the map of the island, it is an “oriental” but for some reason (whatever) the city belongs to the “occidental” province. Note though that li...

This topic started with this article There are four towns that sport the name San Antonio! First is a town in the province of Nueva Ecija (Region 3 – Central Luzon). This San Antonio is in the southwestern tip of the province bordering with Pangasinan. Like the rest of the province, this is also a farming town but check-out the multitude of fresh water fish-ponds in this town. Scenic, especially against the solitary Mt. Arayat as the backdrop! Moving west on the same Region is our 2nd town named San Antonio – and that is in the province of Zambales. Situated on the province’s southwestern tip, this is a sunset town and the jump-off point to Capones and Camera Islands – which you should not miss when in the area. What with beaches literally moving from one place to another. Really! Then again, for the culture savvy, never miss Casa San Miguel – which in itself is a destination already! 3rd in our list of San Antonios is little town in the province of Quezon, on its western-most side, in...

As promised to myself… and to you… I returned to watch the 2007 version of this spectacular spectacle. And I was happy I did! This was my 3rd witnessing of the festival and anyone can kill me for being a fan… but I will surely return next year! I have thus seen the 2005, 2006 and 2007 rendition of those giant lanterns. My verdict… I can’t seem to get enough of them giant lanterns! Ah they are just so gloriously beautiful – especially if you think of and have an idea on how those things come to be! I am ready to declare that this must be one of the most amazing labors-of-love in this country! How else do we want to call it anyway… 18 feet in diameter, thousands of light-bulbs, kilometers of electrical wire, thousands of sheets of paper and transparent plastic, kilometers of masking tape, thousands of hair-clips, rehearsals, kilograms worth of starch made into paste, a truck, rehearsals, music, metal-sheets, layouts, artworks, rehearsals, electric bills, and many things else… all for the...

This topic started with this article There are also three towns in this country named San Andres. 1st is San Andres in the province of Quezon (Region 4A CALABARZON). This town sits on the southeastern tip of the big province called Bondoc Peninsula and it’s right on the shores of Ragay Gulf facing Camarines Sur. You’ll be surprised to know that majority of the people in this poor fishing-and-farming town speak Bisaya (Cebuano) than Tagalog! Why? Ah go there hehe! 2nd is another town also named San Andres, and that is in the province of Romblon. This town is the upper western coast of Tablas Island. Beaches have grayish sands but there are a scattering of waterfalls and rocky cliffs plus a cave system. Our 3rd town named San Andres is in the province of Catanduanes, on its southwestern end facing Camarines Sur. This town that sits in the mouth of a big river is the biggest in terms of land area and next to the capital town of Virac in terms of infrastructure development. Beaches are fin...

This topic started with this article Now the saints! There are a lot of them, and as promised… here is my first installment - San Agustin. This is first in our list since it starts with the letter “A”. There are 3 towns in this country named specifically as San Agustin. There is a town Named San Agustin in the southern part of the province of Isabela (Region 2, Cagayan Valley). This town is the border with Quirino province and is too deep into the forests that paved roads are just slowly crawling to it. But they have a fun Carabao (Buffalo) festival and that they pride themselves of the kind of Carabaos they breed! So it was worth the grueling trip! The next San Agustin is a town in the northeastern corner of the main island (Tablas), province of Romblon (Region 4B, MIMAROPA). While still a bit off the beaten tourist tracks, this town has a challenging-enough mountain trail, it has waterfalls beaches and snorkeling areas esp to a sunken Spanish galleon. The 3rd San Agustin is another t...

Have you heard about it before? Well, if you say “no”, that would be fair enough. This is a lesser known festival as of yet but slowly gaining a following from festival watchers. Fact is, I separately asked four of my workmates who hail from the province of Pampanga, and all of them reverted with “what is that?”, is that Kapampangan?”. These four souls come from Guagua (goes to her home once a month); from Angeles (goes home every weekend); from Arayat (goes home every week) and; from the city of San Fernando (drives from his home there to our office in Makati everyday)! Gosh! Anyway… How did I know about this festival? I came across it on the Wow Philippines website while browsing along for festivals and events in December. Where is it celebrated? Just over near the end of the NLEX at San Fernando, Pampanga – an hour away from the metropolis. This year, the 10th of such a celebration was held at the Robinsons Starmills Mall – just by the side of the NLEX and across SM City Pampanga....

This topic started with this article Still before the saints, there is this name that of course refers to one of our Spanish Conquistadores. Despite the name’s popularity (e.g., Salcedo Village in Makati, Salcedo Place Condominium) there are only two towns in the country that bear the name. First is the town of Salcedo in Ilocos Sur. If you are not historically inclined, this is nothing but just another hinter town. But it played a critical role during the war era. If you don’t mind the hiking though, there are at least three waterfalls that will surely catch your interest. This town is far from the capital and is actually at the foot of the Cordilleras. The other town called Salcedo is far down in the province of Eastern Samar (Region 8, Eastern Visayas). This one is a big town in terms of land area and straddles in between the Pacific Ocean and the Leyte Gulf. So this is not just a sunrise town, it also has its sunset portion! This is a town of rivers and bays and islands and little ...

I have been to this place like centuries ago and all I can remember is there was an elephant, a lion, a tiger, some snakes and crocodiles horses and monkeys and birds. But the most that lingered in my lowly memory is that it was a yucky place I did not even want to sit anywhere – and I was young then supposedly unconcerned of the dirt, grime or smell wherever I was. Lately, a friend told me he saw some personality mention the Manila Zoo on TV; that it was kind of refurbished and now fine to visit. In short it was either being advertised or endorsed or both (as if those words differ on TV!). So the kaladkarin in me ticked again and lo… we went there just this afternoon! That’s right, just still a few hours ago – meaning I was there this very day! Purpose: to check if it was really what was being described on TV as seen and heard by my friend so that we could have something to tell friends and family if it was okay to herd the children to this almost forgotten urban getaway… The Manila Z...