Philippine Travel Notes

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...

Find those words for yourself hehe. This big big signage is nailed to a tree over at Isla Del Sta Cruz Grande’s pink-sand beach! Yep, in the city of flowers :)

Here is a cute sample of that mixed Visayan Spanish Malay and Tagalog for a language. I was surprised at myself. I may not be able to literally translate it, but I could understand the reminder well - "Please leave your footwear here, downstairs" or something like that, right?! Yey! This was at that museum inside Fort Pilar in Zamboanga City. Where we were not being allowed to enter, remember? Because they have just cleaned and the tourism boss was coming, remember? Chingga! (I hope I spelled that last word correctly hehe) Oh well, the interesting ‘signs’ of our times!

So, have you been to Zamboanga? Which Zamboanga?! Zamboanga City? Zamboanga Del Norte? Zamboanga Del Sur? Zamboanga Sibugay? Or do you actually know what and where those places are, huh?! Afraid? Why? What are you afraid of anyway? You just heard something on radio or TV and you so quickly decided Zamboanga is a dreadful city? Shame! It’s far from being a war zone, believe me. And save for some eyesores, the place is actually grand! So let me tell you about things Zamboanga the way I have seen or encountered them. To make everything easy for you, let us focus on just one place for starters – Zamboanga City. This city has its own kind of charm that after the first visit, you’d want to be back there by the next available long-weekend. Here we go: How did I know about this place? Honestly, my first visit of Zamboanga was not anything I yearned for. It was an official assignment from my previous employer and I had no choice. But I guess this was one such opportunity that led...

This topic started with this article There are just too many of them same name towns and cities, so let’s continue… Anda is another such name. It is an island very near to the hundred islands in Pangasinan. And it connects to Bolinao town via a bridge. It is the only island town in the whole province of Pangasinan. Farming and fishing is the main event in this town. But of course, the town teems with cooperatives and socio-civic organizations aimed at preserving the great marine life that it has in its surroundings. They even got the support of the University of the Philippines in maintaining a fine ecosystem for giant clams (Taclobo) to thrive! So where is the other Anda?! Ahh it’s a little town on the eastern-most tip of the island province of Bohol. While it is a tranquil beach town, you’d have to go there fast! Resorts are springing up and you might just be late to savor the tranquil splendour on its fine white sand beaches. Like in its Pangasinan namesake, Anda in Bohol also has a...

Let’s talk town and city names in the Philippines. Yes, many a first-timer can easily get lost without properly checking or asking around where a town or city is. Often though, the getting lost or confusion stage occurs during the planning of a trip. Research and the ever reliable “asking around” do get us to realize exactly which place we are headed to. Did you know there are more than 120 names in this country that are used by two or more towns or cities? That is counting only those places with exactly the same names! There are still others with the “sounds like” or “seems like” status. Here’s a sample conversation: Me : Yo, we just entered the NLEX and should be there in two hours. Friend : Gosh! You don’t have to fly on the road. Me : Oh San Fernando is just near, can we meet at SM or Robinsons? Friend : Ha? There is no SM nor Robinsons here, ano ka ba? Me : Di ba pagka-exit sa tollway ng San Fernando Friend : ‘Tado, that’s San Fernando City in Pampanga, my house is in La Union Me ...