Philippine Travel Notes

Despite the odds, I did it anyway, and I just did it today! Yeah! Am happy I did! I swear I will do this again in the nearest future with friends and/or family. This all started with my curiosity about those good-looking white boats plying the murky Pasig River. Every time I pass by the Guadalupe bridge in Makati (ok Mandaluyong is the other side), I always chance upon a quick glance of those white boats. Many times it made me feel nostalgic remembering those days when I would ride the CityCats of Brisbane from Hamilton down to Southbanks or even further to the UQ. Those boats are similar to what Pasig River now has! I did hear some years ago about Piso-Para-Sa-Pasig (a rehab program) and I did hear that some commuters use the Pasig River instead of the dizzying traffic on city streets. Sometime ago, there was even news of a motorized outrigger banca (full with students) that sunk in this murky river. But I have not heard (yet) of good-looking and seemingly clean (at least from afar) c...

This topic started with this article There are two towns in this country with that name Pitogo. One of these towns is in the province of Quezon (Region 4A) and most notable is its church on a hill with a grand view of the Tayabas Bay. Roaming around the dwindling mangroves is an eco-adventure fun with children. The other Pitogo town is in Zamboanga Del Sur on its southwestern tip. This is a promising town with a lot of sea and land resources but has never been reached by powers-that-be serious enough to develop it into something for the tourists. But you’d be surprised to find out there are little houses in this place that use solar power instead of your usual MERALCO! Their solar power generating gadgets were donated by another country.

This topic started with this article Whoa! There are 7 towns! First is the town in Bataan (Region 3) sandwiched between Orion (on the south where you arrive via fast crafts from Manila Bay), and Balanga City (on the north). This Pilar town is of course where you find the famed and towering Dambana Ng Kagitingan – the cross-shaped building with a narrow and cranky elevator for you to get to the top! But oh my what an experience being up there! Next is a town on the northern part of the province of Sorsogon (Region 5) in its boundary with the province of Albay. Have you heard about the “astilleros” during the Spanish era? There is one in this town called Panlatuan. Then again, this town is right beside Donsol and you guessed it right – the whale shark interaction is your great find in this place! Third is another town named Pilar and that is in the easternmost tip of province of Capiz (Region 6) just bordering with the province of Iloilo. Not to be outshone by the two previous towns of t...

This topic started with this article There are two towns and both are in Mindanao’s Region 14 - ARMM! One is a town in the newest province of Shariff Kabungsuan. For those who think lost about this new name, just remember Maguindanao as that is the mother province! Apart from the grand view of the Moro Sea, you will most certainly experience the sight and smell (okay, others call it “stench”) of fish being dried all over town. This is quite an industry here. I want to call this town a danggit haven! Many of them fish being dried on the roads do disappear during the Padang-Padang and the Kambulag Festivals - and both are must see for the color and cultural splendour! There are beaches, resorts, islands and a fruit bat colony or something! Now the other Parang is in the province of Sulu. It’s the southwestern tip of the main island about 20 or so kilometers from the capital. Like the other Parang, this is also a fishing village with a lot of white beaches. But I was surprised to see a bi...

In part 1, I just relayed how I and my friends went there, where we stayed-at and a description of Pearl of the Pacific 1. Short maybe my memory, but that was definitely not all I have to tell. I still have to regale you with what we did there and the things like those, right? So here I go… Day 1 Activities First order of the day upon arrival was to choose a welcome drink that we liked – was it buko juice straight from the coconut? or pineapple juice with a thin slice of real pineapple by the rim of the glass? All of us went for the buko juice sans the usual plastic straw to sip on. You had to lug the heavy fruit with your two hands, and then smack your lips on a little hole carved on it, then start sipping the juice/water out of the fruit. Crude as it might have been, it was a very refreshing experience! [This was/is definitely far from your welcome drink at Pearl Farm or Subic’s Legenda – which is ALWAYS little glassfuls of iced tea that tastes more like brown sugar melted in water! ...

This topic started with this article Yes it’s that aromatic plant, and there are two towns in this country that take on that name. Pandan is the name of a town on the northernmost tip of the island province of Catanduanes (Region 5). This town is hard to reach from Virac via a hundred kilometer journey of unpaved roads. But, if you get a chance to visit this place, go fall in love with it. White sand beaches abound, they have spectacular sunrise and sunset views and there are little islands or islets nearby. Just make sure you don’t go during the typhoon season! The other Pandan is a town in the province of Antique (Region 6) by its northern tip and border with the province of Aklan. If you noted my descriptions of Libertad town in previous blog entries, well, this Pandan is just next to Libertad. Thus, they share the same vast richness of nature at its best. Don’t miss the river adventures, the springs, caves and of course beaches! Hey, very important to note that there are only two t...

This topic started with this article Like many other towns, the name takes its origins from the Spanish colonizer. You’d be right to notice that almost every town in this country has its namesake in either Spain or Mexico! On Pamplona, there are 3 towns in the country. One is in the province of Cagayan (Region 2) at the tip of the main island of Luzon. This farming and fishing village being a confluence of two settlements has two patron saints. Interestingly, this town’s residents also speak in two dialects (Ilocano and Ybanag). I call this place the town with the red church and an orange belfry - for that is what tickles my memory! Theres a big river and swamps and mangroves. Their beach is not white but quite a place too! The next Pamplona is a town in the province of Camarines Sur (Region 5). This is an agricultural town on the western side of the province and near the Ragay Gulf. Hmm, aside from having passed by this town many times, I never got to have a quick go-see yet. The 3rd...

Well well well… who does not know Baguio?! The summer capital of the country, the place that let a thousand flowers bloom every February, the place where your mom and grandma would go for an AUV-full of vegetables so you end up eating ceasar salad from morning till night – in three consecutive weeks! Any more memories?! Yes, the ukay-ukay capital of the country – definitely with more choices than you have in all of Cubao and Aurora Boulevard, right? I cannot disagree. But for me, there are a lot of other (good or bad) things Baguio worth remembering! For now, let’s talk about the various ways on how we go up to this summer capital. Getting there Easiest is to take to the air and land at Loakan Airport, 4251 feet above sea level – which is actually still “below” the city of Baguio. Flights from Manila take less than an hour but you will need land transportation from said airport about 20 or so minutes to the city proper. Don’t worry, there are jeeps and cabs! For the commuters, most co...