tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114339152026-06-09T10:39:01.897+08:00I travel, therefore I write, therefore I travelPinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.comBlogger2094125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-23695051982838903062025-06-22T23:03:00.369+08:002026-03-03T08:48:00.608+08:00

Saw this again, parked in front of Office of the Vice President in Nulatula Tacloban.Wala lang hehe, nakita, nilapitan, pinektyuran. Yun lang! A good looking bus anyway. Okay okay fine.., the reason I took that photo (I even wanted to board and peep inside - kaso sarado, walang tao, Sunday kasi eh) was... it is still a hot topic on social media discussions, not just in Tacloban but even in

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-1577692358649168692025-06-01T23:55:00.179+08:002025-10-20T10:54:14.855+08:00

No long tale to tell. I happened by the Sto. Niño Church of Tacloban for the 5:30PM Sunday Mass. Being a little late, I had nowhere else to stand but way back outside. I was aware of the nice warm weather and interesting clouds. So I clicked some!The first photo I took at 1740H was still too bright and bland, though I could already see some orangy wash. Ah it went well with the ongoing sermon

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-39896201567871275722025-05-29T22:37:00.737+08:002025-10-20T10:53:38.995+08:00

For now, maybe. But it looks like that's the new normal our planet is headed towards. Here's the story: I went early to Tacloban's Save More (near the pier) for some urgent errands. As in I was there before it opened. Done at 9:37AM, I was out to ride a jeep, and saw this:That scene could look normal to the unfamiliar or unconcerned. But having been in and out of this city for 11 years now, I

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com024 Avenida Rizal, Downtown, Tacloban City, 6500 Leyte, Philippines11.2466876 125.000248611.246424530011724 124.99998037909852 11.246950669988275 125.0005168209015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-43519595508666611942025-05-26T23:57:01.150+08:002025-10-20T16:20:14.977+08:00

Let's do a recap of the 'resorts' and 'rides' part, of my fun travel to the Pacific Towns of Northern Samar, since that's where most of the "kakaiba matters" in my notes are! Disclaimer: Whatever I say below, I will insist this corner of Samar Island is paradise in its own right; as of now worth a visit; definitely evolving (if you know what I mean)! Ah! Yes, you have to know what I mean:

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-58172628421535188892025-05-26T23:54:02.010+08:002025-10-20T16:19:25.132+08:00

This was not really in my itinerary, although somewhere in the recesses of my brain was saying, I'd love to drop by, even for just a while. And it happened... Opportunity! Let's start from the very beginning... From the previous story, I hopped on a van at Gamay with Oras as my destination. It went well, with just one little caveat, that I would give up my Seats 1 & 2 at Arteche. Arteche

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0799C+HJH, Arteche, Eastern Samar, Philippines12.2689415 125.3715974-16.041292336178845 90.2153474 40.579175336178849 160.52784739999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-73990338848157316902025-05-26T23:50:01.922+08:002025-10-20T16:18:37.837+08:00

Exit time! Time to leave the Pacific towns of Northern Samar. I wish I had more days. In fact, I even wish I could live in this place, at least for a few months, years, or kahit forever! Anyway, leave I must! Now, this was a trip full of learnings - I dedicate to you, fellow commuting roamers! Planned itinerary for this day was: 1] walk to the highway in Potong (~100 meters); 2] hop on a

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-82356419775804140432025-05-26T23:45:00.004+08:002025-10-20T16:17:52.539+08:00

A wonderful encounter.., in one of my morning-walks, I found a beautiful new friend. Can you see her in this picture? Wheh, malayo pa lang I already noticed her alindog!At 6:26AM, I was walking to a sari-sari store (upper left corner of pic, beside red gate, sarado pa kasi ang sa Momoy), and there she was on a sidewalk, confidently seated. She knew I was there though she was busier looking at

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com087QP+25J, Lapinig, Northern Samar, Philippines12.3375875 125.285390612.336539391497594 125.28431771639404 12.338635608502406 125.28646348360596tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-19929482753591572782025-05-26T23:40:01.418+08:002025-10-20T16:17:13.343+08:00

This is a beautiful beach, still a daily tableau of the "rural life-and-recreation"!Potong Beach, is not (yet) that much publicized, thus, not in the bucket-list of many a traveler, and I think I like it that way (greedy ba?), but by-and-by, it is getting 'found'! If not yet widely-known, how did I know about this place? Ah eh, I have my ways, let me count the ways... hehehe! Honestly, I saw

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-50340823867669596052025-05-26T23:35:01.335+08:002025-10-20T16:16:27.800+08:00

Potong, Lapinig, Northern Samar. This was my next destination on this 'tour' of Northern Samar's Pacific Towns. And I stayed at this barangay's busier place (dadalawa lang naman sila!) - Momoy's Resort!Not sure about the "correct nomenclature"! That billboard says Momoy Beach. Then I heard some friends call it "Sinulog Beach". But, the only two resorts in this location are beside each other -

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com087QP+4C3, Lapinig, Northern Samar, Philippines12.3377638 125.2860421-15.972470036178846 90.1297921 40.647997636178843 160.4422921tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-12412081152270231322025-05-26T23:30:00.938+08:002025-10-20T16:15:37.320+08:00

Here is one story that would probably be my first on the convergence of us Humans (our curiosities), Nature (the unadulterated world around us), and, AI (new technology). As I walked on the beach at Mika's Beach Resort, fascinated, I took this picture...Right there, I uploaded it to my AI Chatbot and asked "What is this crab-art called?" The reply opened with "indeed it is crab art" parang

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0979W+9J, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.3684375 125.2965625-2.0442338638239974 107.7184375 26.781108863824 142.8746875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-17545305914636452602025-05-25T23:59:01.733+08:002025-10-20T16:14:45.957+08:00

This was it pusit! My roam of Gamay's central area - with no itinerary! I like doing this kind of walk, where I don't know which way to go, what to see, what to expect. Come what may or where my feet lead me to. Here I said: "which way now"!Natawa ako sa sarili ko, as if I was asking St. Michael for directions! Eh on that shot I was standing at the church door, facing outside. That, is where I

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com097PX+49H, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.3853125 125.2984844-15.924921336178846 90.1422344 40.695546336178843 160.4547344tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-62365716051546269472025-05-25T23:57:00.044+08:002025-10-20T16:13:52.455+08:00

I came chauffeured c/o Sonny, you know that from my last story! So, I arrived here:He wanted to drop me off at walking paths on either side, so I would be nearer. But I requested that I be 'ejected' here! He instantly got it and even said aw picture-picture! That's the St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church of Gamay Northern Samar. The park likely belongs to the church, as with many towns

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com097PW+FQX, Mapanas - Gamay Rd, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.3862384 125.2969965-15.923995436178846 90.1407465 40.696472236178849 160.4532465tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-46566487486382521752025-05-25T23:55:00.187+08:002025-10-20T16:12:44.528+08:00

Time to stroll around Gamay's town center. But first this, at 6:36AM still at Mika's:Already much different from my 'morning has broken' views more than an hour ago! I didn't know I was riding that van at left, c/o Sonny (the resort's manager), because yesterday, his son gave me a ride to town (to buy lunch) on board their own scooter. Free rides but nakisabay lang. They were really

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com097JW+MGQ, Unnamed Road, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.381724 125.2963626-15.928509836178845 90.1401126 40.691957836178844 160.4526126tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-84517839712747717162025-05-25T23:54:00.006+08:002025-10-20T16:11:53.782+08:00

From Nathalie's Resort on Araw Beach, a morning snack at Marcela's Resort, it was then time for check-in at Mika's Gapo Beach Resort, still in Gamay, Northern Samar. Finding the resort. Where is this place? Aw, an expansive beach property just behind Marcela's. While it is still distant from the highway, you won't miss their signage in big and bold letters. Here here, for clarity, I grabbed

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0979W+9J, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.3684375 125.2965625-27.772967347151102 54.984062499999993 52.5098423471511 -164.3909375tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-34978587926205182025-05-24T23:55:02.112+08:002025-10-20T16:10:53.446+08:00

From Araw Beach, near the northern end of Gamay, I was en route to Gapo Beach, at next-to-last southern-most barangay of this same town. Before entering the gate to Mika's Gapo Beach Resort though, I saw the inviting gate of Marcela's Resort Hotel. I told my driver "let's pass there first, to check it out". And so, we entered!Nicely done, therefore 'enticing entrance' to a hotel/resort in the

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0Puntod, Gamay, 6422 Northern Samar, Philippines12.3672573 125.2929071-15.942976536178845 90.1366571 40.677491136178844 160.44915709999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-22596121021816170332025-05-24T23:50:00.602+08:002025-10-20T16:09:56.101+08:00

I can say that this topic may be one for the nostalgia - at least to those who've been living on planet earth for 3 decades now. Yet this can also be additional learning, to the young and modern, with no actual farm exposure other than reels, shorts or tiktok! Umayos kayo, baka ang iba sa inyo eh, gawa sa lon-an! Further to what I earlier told you, let's talk more about the LO-ON and

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-67941146954299368852025-05-24T23:45:00.748+08:002025-10-20T16:08:53.729+08:00

This is a new one, not many yet, even from Gamay, know about the existence of this resort. I chanced upon this place on my morning stroll of Brgy. San Antonio, Gamay. Yes, Brgy. San Antonio, where Araw Beach is - north of Gamay town proper - not the now known Mika's Beach Resort at Brgy. Cagamutan Del Norte, south of poblacion. Which incidentally per plan, is where I'm going immediately after

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-49092649382086205092025-05-24T23:40:02.055+08:002025-10-20T16:08:13.760+08:00

I roamed around this little village, where Araw Beach is a part of. Not for any special reason, but just a go-see really, at its present-day look, before more changes happen. Why? What changes are happening? Aw, just like everywhere else in this country. By and by, yes, even if too slow, remote rural areas do get upgrades. That's what I mean. Examples: 1) on arrival, I saw that streets are

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-7953985030068958842025-05-24T23:35:00.713+08:002025-10-20T16:07:26.599+08:00

My home at Araw Beach, Gamay, Northern Samar. This was not my choice amongst many, for this was my only practicable choice among a handful! But I liked it anyway! I went to Araw from Mapanas without a booked nor definite place to stay. I did have an idea of a resort, thanks to some friends, but when I got there it was not available. Sayang, because it was/is the most ideal for me (remotest

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0Araw Beach, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.4312937 125.2945484-15.878940136178846 90.1382984 40.741527536178843 160.4507984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-53203835982183145032025-05-24T23:30:01.199+08:002025-10-20T16:06:20.688+08:00

Beachology? Is there such a word? There is, NOW - I declare, as I do hereby declare! That, is irrevocable and immutable! Thus, let it be known by all ye my royal subjects! My royal subjects lang, hindi predicate! Walang kokontra! Ang kumontra papangit! Game na. Let's talk about some 'lessons'! This beach may not be for you my dear reader, if you are the type who likes to romp or laze on a

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0Araw Beach, Gamay, Northern Samar, Philippines12.4312937 125.2945484-15.878940136178846 90.1382984 40.741527536178843 160.4507984tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-87273276866045625472025-05-23T23:25:00.652+08:002025-10-20T16:05:39.553+08:00

Done at Mapanas, it was time to head to my final destination of the day - the Sun!Do you know where that is? That is Araw Beach, Brgy. San Antonio, Gamay Northern Samar! Its in Gamay, but feels nearer to Mapanas. Maybe it's midway between them. Yep, it is named Araw Beach, that's why I jokingly refer to it as "the sun"! And don't get eggzoiteeed! That photo was my first click, upon arrival

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-17406491351547314822025-05-23T23:21:00.235+08:002025-10-20T16:00:35.260+08:00

I am not really sure if what I heard was "kayap" or "kayab" or "kayag", but I know this activity - WINNOWING in English. PAGTATAHIP in Tagalog? Not sure about that too!The act: separating the rice hull or husk (chaff and other impurities) from the 'usable grains' by making them fly away, when poured from a "nigo" (big bilao) at head level! Ang hirap pala i-describe nyan mapa-english o tagalog!

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-31624479106380445262025-05-23T23:19:00.852+08:002025-10-20T15:59:43.507+08:00

Two blocks away from the municipal hall, I chanced upon the 'also fairly young' Our Lady of the Angels Parish Church of Mapanas, commonly called Mapanas Church.I hope you get the drift of these "fairly young" pronouncements that I keep saying. It is because this town was created from 7 barangays of Gamay only in 1966, and this church was created as a parish only in 1975. So it's rather young

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0F7F3+62H, Mapanas, Northern Samar, Philippines12.47305 125.2526042-15.837183836178845 90.0963542 40.783283836178846 160.4088542tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-86296345036939597932025-05-23T23:15:00.444+08:002025-10-20T15:58:48.568+08:00

From the Guinpandayan View Deck, I went straight to poblacion Mapanas, skipping the Pinusilan Rocks as I've been there last year. I realized I was running out of time! First I saw was the municipal hall, since it's just along the highway. And this was it?My scooter driver said matter of factly that that is really it. Honga naman ano? Ayan nakasulat na eh! Yet based on my roaming experiences,

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0F7G3+3JW, Mapanas, Northern Samar, Philippines12.4752452 125.2540735-15.834988636178846 90.0978235 40.785479036178842 160.4103235tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11433915.post-62086363227302864162025-05-23T23:10:00.871+08:002025-10-20T15:57:50.156+08:00

My roam of the northeastern towns of Samar Island continued. After the Rakitdakit Rock at Palapag, my scooter ambled the southward run to the next town, Mapanas. It is just about 9 or so kilometers. But there are always things-to-see along the way, right? Right. And I didn't anymore check my list - my driver knows them - plus more! As I marveled at the seemingly serpentine form of this

Pinoy Travelerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15962351690370797210noreply@blogger.com0Palapag - Mapanas Rd, Mapanas, Northern Samar, Philippines12.5108726 125.238733-15.799361236178845 90.082483 40.821106436178844 160.394983