Philippine Travel Notes

This is not only a question of fairness or cruelty. This is probably already disrespect to humanity, and should be illegalized as it is not stipulated in their terms of service. Here's the story: I was on a Cebu to Tacloban flight today. I thought everything was normal and fine naman, until they boarded passengers - where I saw something ' shamefully brutal '. Passengers seated on the front-half board normally via the aerobridge, while those seated at the rear-half must go down the emergency stairs of the aerobridge, walk on the tarmac to the tail section of the plane, then climb up to the rear aircraft door. A blue guard is ceremoniously posted at that area near the door to strictly drive rear passengers down to the bare pavement, by checking each and every boarding pass. That's unacceptable for many reasons. The hell we care if it's "to facilitate boarding" . It is not proper. It is unfair to passengers seated at the back because they we...

After 5 months , I was back to Oslob, to see whale sharks, again. I was with another friend who wanted to see them, because in the near future, we're bringing a group of friends to also experience them or other tourist sites in the area. Did you notice that? I said "we are", not "she is" bringing a group of friends. Dinamay ako! Haruy hahaha! Gawin ko kayang profession maging Executive Tour Guide, ano! But I'm not complaining, since I love traveling to the countryside. Every time friends and/or family ask me to go with them, is another chance for me to do that. Laag ba! Da epek? Panibagong kwento dito sa blog ko. Win-win situation. Tara let's go na! Going there Still the same old song, as I've described in my story last November (after Yolanda) . Most comfortably affordably convenient (if there is only 1, 2 or 3 of you) is still taking the bus, preferably Ceres, and preferably on their air-conditioned trips to Dumaguete. Mind ...

I have been passing by this place a number of times, and never tried them yet. Yes, I heard what it is, a Korean fastfood-style restaurant with a signature tasting chicken! After Mactan with some transactions at the airport, friend and I caught ourselves at SM Cebu. She wanted to try other BonChon items as she's already tried the chicken. Okay done. Masarap nga. Kakaiba ang lasa. I think it is not just the glaze (as others claim), but how the chicken is cooked. Better than Jollibee? Hmn, magkaiba sila eh! Basta masarap. We were even wondering what took us long to try BonChon! Maybe because it is always crowded, especially the branch at Ayala Mall! #bonchonchicken #TravelPhilippines #CentralVisayas

Many of you, dear readers, won't anymore know what this instrument is! I mean: 'di nyo na yata inabot' ! That is why I took this picture. To capture the recent-past ! Oist FYI pinagtitinginan ako while I shot that pic ! People curiously glanced at me as I stood there, take aim, and clicked! Ahh hehehe, the PLDT Payphone - one of the few that still remain. I was even surprised to have encountered one, today March 30, 2014! Sa SM City Cebu yan. Syempre wala nang gumagamit. Oy, aba me dial tone pa! Buhi pa! That gadget, once-upon-a-time the lifeline of many humans in-love or in-business, is now forgotten, overshadowed by the cellphone ! I should know... because I incidentally come from a generation of Pinoys born and raised during its prominence, until imminent death! Bakit, patay na ba ang landline? Well, naghihingalo na, di ba?! I can anyway tell you, that until the late 1990s or even the early 2000s, it was essential for us travelers to know how to u...

What a long story title, 'no? But, do you know those places? Read on! Too many more things to talk about (kay mga turaban) , but I needed to be at Mactan Airport by noon. So we agreed to meet for brunch at Mactan Marina Mall [sa Timex ]. Where's that? Sa Timex nga! Timex Many people from other places who frequently go to Cebu by air, have been used to calling that corner of Airport Road and MLQ Hi-way in Pusok, Lapu-lapu City as Timex , because of the clock tower, where the four big clocks sport the brand Timex Indiglo ! That location is actually just a road intersection island, but it's big - about 4,000sqm says my engineer-friend rom Pusok. There is even a building - with that clock-tower. Timex, as you would probably know, was the 'first international brand locatee' to the original Mactan Export Processing Zone (now MEPZ1) - its gate is a few feet away. They have a big facility at MEPZ1 composed of several buildings, and it is said that maj...

Another benefit of roaming around (even if aimless hehe), familiarization tour! Walking by the side of Consolacion Public Market this morning, and I saw this: I asked the manang what it is called. She said "Bagongon" (I hope I heard that right) . A tindera beside her said lami na tinon-an . I asked permission to take a photo. Done! And until I got home, my curiosity on that shell did not stop. So, I asked around, and curiously searched the world wide web for anything other than "lami na nga tinon-an". So, it's generally called Bagongon in the Visayas, Mindanao and even some parts of Luzon. It can be called "Susong Pilipit" by Tagalogs, though it's a very generic name. I'll stick to Bagongon . And, I conciously encountered it only today, I think! Hey I asked if that is the same as the Dalodalo or Sihi in Eastern Samar, No to both! Laag pa more! #Visayas #TravelPhilippines #bagongon

Circumstances are as if leading me to prove what I have been saying all along... that there will always be something notable, even on the common routes we take often ! Take this route I keep traveling: Catbalogan-Tacloban-Ormoc-Cebu . Here I was again, passing-by, like I did 2 weeks ago. And I've seen things 'worthy of space' in my brain. Oops, let's clarify that last pronouncement ... yes worthy of space in my head , but, the human brain forgets, therefore let me rephrase that into: worthy of space in my blog ! My title says "Tacloban to Ormoc". What ever happened to "Catbalogan to Tacloban" before that? Aw, 2 things: 1) nothing much caught my attention ; and 2) nakatulog ako ! Maybe that satisfying 'silog' lunch at Cafe Maria Rosario made me drowsy! Anyway... It was the same old route as before: 1) Catbalogan-Tacloban on a Grand Tours van ; 2) Tacloban-Ormoc on a Grand Tours van ; 3) Ormoc-Cebu fastcraft via Weesam this ...

We had dinner last night at a place where many Catbaloganons would probably raise an eyebrow (or both) if they hear this name: Twins Resto . Well, things have changed! It has been upgraded, and there's a new kind of service - turn left and go to the end. You will stumble upon this enclosed and air-conditioned "private dining area". Ayos! If you look at that photo intently, you will realize I took it while already seated inside the room, yet I could see all the goings-on outside. I could hear the band but faintly. It's an "exclusive" meeting room complete with projectors and the works. Of course you can dine in this "function room" if you wish. We did. They even arrange buffets! Aw, you just go out to the main hall, if you want to sing and/or dance with the band. Ay, even the food they serve has also seen upgrades - in presentation and in taste! There was a dozen of us, but I think that room can fit more. I also didn't 'investi...