Travel Jams

It's a happy and memorable 12.12.12 for me!

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:17:00 +0000

It was early in October when I declared that "Christmas came early for me this year." It started one early morning with a surprise email from Nescafe Philippines, informing me that my entry has been selected as one of the most serendipitous entry in the Nescafe 3in1 Serendipics Promo.

I didn't know which camera I won until November, when they officially announced it on their fan page. I went gaga -- stifling giggles, squeals, and screams of excitement -- because I read it while I was in the library! So I did all that online instead. Haha! (I was using my personal USB internet dongle BTW, in case you're wondering why I was FB'ing in the library. And it was lunch break! *defensive lang*).

Anyways, I couldn't attend the awarding so I had to wait for them to ship my prize.

And lo and behold, I got THEM today!!! (Yes, plural form.)

They sent over that oh-so-pretty pink CoffeeCam too -- with packs of Nescafe 3in1 in Chocolatte and Creamylatte varieties plus a Nescafe mug inside! ^_^

And the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 came with a case too and 2-GB Transcend SD card!

Remember how I adored and got smitten by that cute pink camera box that I half-mindlessly joined this contest? Well, I got sooooo much more than that!

Thanks heaps Nescafe... and the entire Nescafe Team!!! ^___^

So yes. It was indeed a special, happy, and memorable 12.12.12 for me... definitely one for the blog! ;)

Now time for that creamy white coffee... Ciao!

How to Find Cheap Accommodation

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Accommodation is perhaps one of the biggest costs travelers consider when planning a trip. Whether it's for a luxurious rest-and-relaxation staycation, a quick weekend getaway, or a mid- to long-term vacation, I'm pretty sure people would want to have the best value they can find.

Center Suites, Cebu City | June 2012

Everyone has a different preference when it comes to accommodation types. Some want luxury. Others just want cheap hotels. Some can even sleep anywhere as long as there's a roof and a wi-fi connection! However, no matter what your accommodation tastes may be, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to pay pay an arm and a leg for it.

Dee/Timmy's Side, Boracay | October 2010

Here are some ways to find free or inexpensive lodging:

1. Ask your network. What better way to find recommendations than through people you personally (or virtually) know and trust. Solicit advice from everyone in your network -- family, friends, colleagues, etc. In this day and age, that is made a whole lot easier through social networking sites. Try asking on Facebook or Twitter, and you'll be surprised on the number of people who actually take the time to respond.

Moritz Hotel, Iloilo City | October 2010

2. Try couch-surfing. One of the best ways to get free accommodation is by staying with someone who lives where you’re going, sleeping in whatever spare space is available -- bed, couch, or maybe perhaps just floor. If you don't have friends in your planned destination, try checking out CouchSurfing.org. It's a "volunteer-based worldwide network connecting travelers with members of local communities, who offer free accommodation and/or advice."

Couch surfing in Cebu with friends | May 2011

3. Search Online. In case 1 and 2 above unfortunately comes up with zero results, Google might be your savior. There are tons of travel bloggers who document their itinerary in complete details -- including of course where they stayed, what it looked like, and how much it costs. They make our lives a whole lot easier. There are also websites that specialize on finding great deals on accommodations. Consider other options other than hotels. Look for hostels, dorm-type accommodations, or possible homestays.

Homestay, Palawan | December 2008

4. Just Embrace the Adventure. If you're feeling more adventurous, just go without booked accommodation. Ask the locals -- tourism officers, taxi and tricycle drivers, etc. After all, who knows the place better than people who live there, right? Just keep an eye open for swindlers and scammers. To be safe, make sure you have an idea on the usual rates.

Ferionni, Baguio City | May 2010

So the next time you prepare for a getaway, consider these options to help you reduce your expenses and free up your travel budget for more fun activities and food trips.

What about you? How do you find cheap accommodations?

Centrio (Ayala Mall) Sneak Peek Tour | Cagayan de Oro City

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:53:00 +0000

An Ayala-owned mall will open its doors to the public come Friday, November 9, 2012. Centrio, located in the heart of Cagayan de Oro City — along Capt. Vicente Roa St.-Corrales Avenue Cor. C.M. Recto Avenue — is an integrated mixed-use complex composed of a shopping mall, a hotel, a BPO/office building and a condominium tower. It envisions to be in the center of the lives of the people — a place to work, live, and play.

In case you're wondering, Centrio's name is coined from the words "center" and "rio," referring to the Cagayan de Oro River in the center of the city.

Taking advantage of the approved request from Northern Mindanao bloggers for a sneak peek of the soon-to-open mall, the group of excited bloggers — sporting hard hats and face masks — toured the building as it nears completion.

Here are some photos I took during the tour:

Thanks Ms Mae for showing us around

The activity center with a 300-people seating capacity will be a venue for entertaining events which can be viewed from all mall levels.

Activity Center

The Centrio Garden will be one of my fave spots in the mall. They preserved the two acacia trees, as depicted in their logo, to emphasize the Ayala Malls' stand on sustainability.

Centrio Garden

Here are some of the shops that will open soon:

What I'm really excited about is Iligan City's very own Delecta will be there too! Yeay!

And of course, the cinemas! Centrio has 4 cinemas -- three 200-seater and one 300-seater. They have the cutest carpet!

So if you want to see Centrio for yourself, roughly 70% of the shops will open on Friday, November 9, 2012 at 11:00 AM.

ASAP of ABS-CBN will be there at 5:00 PM, featuring ASAP Sessionistas Richard Poon, Sitti, Princess Velasco, with ASAP Supahdancer Gab Valenciano, ASAP Boyfriendz's Khalil Ramos, and many more.

Other shows to look forward to:
November 10, 6PM: Anne Curtis
November 11, 6PM: El Gamma Penumbra (of Pilipinas Got Talent)

And I'm pretty sure there's gonna be more...

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Thanks heaps to Vic M of CDO Bloggers and Irene A of Bukidnon Bloggers for extending the invitation to Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. Big thanks to the entire team of Centrio, Cagayan de Oro for welcoming the Northern Mindanao Bloggers.

Iligan City | Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:50:00 +0000

September has always been special for my hometown, Iligan City. As soon as August arrives, Iliganons start to buzz about plans for the month-long celebration of Diyandi Festival in honor of its patron saint, St. Michael.

This year's grand celebration of Diyandi is themed at "Like Iligan!" to showcase Iligan City and invite people to Discover and Experience Iligan.

In celebration of the city's official Tourism Month, Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. invited fifteen bloggers from all over the country to visit, discover, and experience Iligan with us through a five-day event intended to showcase what Iligan is known for -- as a City of Majestic Waterfalls.

After the long and crazy busy months of careful planning, it all comes down to this. The Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0 officially starts tomorrow! And we're all giddy with excitement! Imagine six waterfalls in five days, inserting festival activities and events in between, topped with gastronomic feasts from all over the city... This experience will surely be fun and one for the books! ;)

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Waterfalling Adventure Tour 1.0 will not be possible without the support from the event sponsors:
Tita Fannies, Red Planet / Calda Pizza, El Canto / Macki's, Iligan City Government, UNILAB, NPC Natures Park,
Third Team Media, TravelJams, PurpleSlipperz, and Pinay Travelista.

PAGANA, A Taste of Iligan: Food and Drink Festival

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:24:00 +0000

I slept with a very happy tummy last night!

We checked out PAGANA, A Taste of Iligan and had an enjoyable sumptuous dinner. Pagana, the official food and drink festival for Diyandi, is hosted by the IHARRA (Iligan Hotel And Resorts Restaurant Association). It's a three-day affair at Big Fish, Pala-o (beside The Strip) featuring a collection of food establishments in the city. They are open at 6PM until 12 midnight from September 14 until September 16, 2012.

Participating establishments are Chino's Deli, Chef Rod’s Gourmet, Aruma Café and Lounge, Flamoo, El Canto Grill and Seafood House / Macki’s, Sweet HoneymanC, Zoey’s Café, and Fontina. And we just had to try them all. We just had to! (Chos! As if labag sa kalooban at napilitan lang. :p)

Chino's Deli's Smoked and Spicy Sausage

Chef Rod's Baby Back Ribs @ Php 80.00 (without rice)

Flamoo's Pagana Burger @ Php 95.00

Flamoo's Double Cheeseburger @ Php 70.00

El Canto's Chicken Barbecue meal @ Php 69.00

Zoey Cafe's Potato Twister

Aruma's Cafe Mocha

It was indeed a fun-filled evening! Aside from good food, there are games, activities, and live band entertainment too.

Still deciding what to do for the rest of weekend? Go to Pagana!

More photos HERE.

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PAGANA A Taste of Iligan is an event organized by IHARRA

for Diyandi Festival, a month-long celebration of the

Iligan City Fiesta 2012

Click here for updates about the Diyandi Events

Discover and Experience Iligan!

Like Iligan!

Viva Señor San Miguel!

Sunrise and Sunset | Dipolog City

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 08:29:00 +0000

There are two brief moments in the 24 hours of each day that give us a sneak peek of the bigger story of our lives. It's the time of day when we experience calm, peace, and serenity; when we reflect on and be grateful for what had been and be hopeful and ready for what lies ahead.

Here are some captured moments of dusk and dawn in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte:

Greeting the Morning with a Gorgeous Sunrise
What better way to welcome a brand new day than bask in the glorious sunrise?

These shots are taken a few weeks back in Baybay Galas, Dipolog City. I'm so happy that I was in the company of bloggers with common travel fetish -- capturing the moments of sunrise and sunset. Yes, it requires a little bit of sacrifice by having to wake up earlier than usual, but it is soooo worth it. It didn't matter that we slept pretty late the night before and that we had to wake up at 4am and travel 20 minutes in a cramped tricycle because sunrise never fails to paint a smile on our faces and leave a spoonful of inspiration and a dose of hope in our hearts. :)

Ending the Day with a Breathtaking Sunset
As a famous quote goes, "The sunrise is God's greeting... Sunset, His signature." True. Here are a couple of photos taken at the boulevard.

There's just something about sunsets that makes me want to pause and just stare into the sun in admiration; to look back and be grateful for all the blessings; and to look forward excitedly to whatever lies ahead. ^_^

Whether it is the gorgeous hues of orange and red or the smooth transition from dark to light or light to dark, there's just something enchanting about sunrises and sunsets. Perhaps the beauty of the skies at this glorious hour is somehow like the beauty of our lives -- sometimes gloomy, sometimes clear, sometimes somewhere in between; most of the time unpredictable, but all the time wonderful. After all, A Sunset is the Promise of a New Day -- A Sunrise is a Promise Fulfilled.

;)

More photos HERE.

NOTE
This post is part of a series on the entire Dipolog-Dapitan trip. Check out the rest of the series.

How to Get to Dipolog City (from Iligan City)
Hudyaka ZaNorte Experience
Hudyaka ZaNorte Street Dancing Competition
Sunrise and Sunset of Dipolog City

How to Get There:

Baybay Galas

Restreto Inn (Minaog) to City Proper: Tricycle: Ask the driver to drop you off at the terminal at the back of the market. (fare: Php 10/person)
City Proper to Galas: Tricycle: Ask the driver to drop you off at the port or pier of Galas. You'll find fishermen and the freshest seafood there. (fare: Php 10/person)

Boulevard

Accessible by tricycle. Minimum fare: Php 7/person (within city proper). Fare from Restreto Inn to boulevard: Php 10/person.

Travel Essentials: Firmoo Prescription Sunglasses (A Product Review)

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 08:02:00 +0000

What’s one thing you can't leave home without?

Me? My prescription eyeglasses! I can't leave home without it. I can no longer see objects far away, and I get terrible headaches and nausea if I don't have my eyeglasses. I seldom use contact lenses too because my eyes get extraordinarily teary that the contact lenses got washed out on more than one occasion!

As you may have figured out, prescription sunglasses is on top of my list of travel essentials -- not for fashion purposes, but more importantly for protection of my eyes. Because of my vision problems, I can't use over-the-counter sunglasses. Good thing I found Firmoo, a global online optical store. They have eyeglasses frames featuring different fashion styles -- from retro eyeglasses frames to fashion ones, from rimless ones to full-rimmed ones and so forth. They have incredibly chic designs, yet surprisingly inexpensive!

When I read that Firmoo launched a program offering free eyewear to first-time buyers, I immediately signed up to get my FREE pair.

So here's what I love about the product:

1. It gives me a clear vision. Naturally, for a person with impaired vision like me, this is of utmost importance. Firmoo sent in the eyeglasses with accurate prescription.

2. It fits perfectly. The frame doesn't fall off or slide down, and it isn't too tight either.

3. It has a cutting-edge modern style. Just because it is a prescription sunglasses does not mean it has to be boring. I chose a wraparound glasses with an ultra cool design. I also like that the tint isn't too dark -- just enough to protect my eyes.

4. The package comes with a repair and maintenance kit. The package I received also had a plastic case, a cleaning cloth, a soft storage bag and a glass repair kit with extra screws and a screwdriver. Taking care of the glasses is as important as taking care of the eyes, right? I'm glad the sunglasses from Firmoo comes with these accessories. If there's one thing I would like to change in the contents though, that would be the cleaning cloth. I prefer microfiber cloth and this cloth in the image below (sorry, I don't know the type of this cloth).

Note: Cleaning cloth used as background NOT from Firmoo.

5. It's easy to order on their website, and the customer service is superb. No wonder Firmoo is the world's most popular online eyeglasses store. They have a large variety of high-quality and fashionable eyewear at the most affordable prices -- too large in fact that it actually took me two days to finally decide on a frame because there were several pairs that I liked. Customer service was also prompt, and they respond to emailed queries and concerns on a timely manner.

If you want to give it a try, just go to http://www.firmoo.com/free-glasses.html and get your FREE eyewear!

Disclosure: I received this product at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Hudyaka ZaNorte 2012 | Streetdancing Competition

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:34:00 +0000

One of my favorite highlights in every festival is the street dancing competition. Last June 9, Hudyaka 2012, the provincial tourism event of Zamboanga del Norte (fondly called by the locals as ZaNorte), culminates with a street dance parade featuring local festivals of its municipalities and cities.

By 2:00 PM, we stood with the crowd under the scorching heat of the sun to witness contingents fill the streets with a burst of wonderful colors and music.

We hadn't had a decent lunch and the heat is borderline unbearable. But seeing the smiles of the performers made us forget all that.

And the festival queens were beautiful!

Photo Credit: Hudyaka ZaNorte fan page

More photos HERE.

Winners:

1st Prize: Municipality of La Libertad (P300,000)

2nd Prize: Dapitan City (P200,000)

3rd Prize: Municipality of Liloy (P100,000)

Festival Queen, Best Musicality, and Best in Costume: Dapitan City, winning them an additional P20,000.

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the Provincial Government of Zamboanga del Norte
Hon. Rolando E. Yebes, Governor of Zamboanga del Norte
Atty. Patrick Ivan Ang, the Provincial Tourism Officer
Atty. Flynt Concha, the Chairman of Hudyaka Zanorte 2012;

Mr. Ralph Lorenzo Tan of Mediatrix Homes Inc;

Dr. Gerald T. Concha PhD and Atty. Dianne Concha of Rural Bank of Rizal Inc;

Mrs. Jovy Lim Concha of Big Joe's Restaurant; and

Dr. Emmanuel Quicio of Dipolog Design Center.

This project was initiated by Seven One Hundred.

NOTE
This post is part of a series on the entire Dipolog-Dapitan trip. Check out the rest of the series.

How to Get to Dipolog City (from Iligan City)
Hudyaka ZaNorte Experience
Hudyaka ZaNorte Street Dancing Competition
Sunrise and Sunset of Dipolog City

Hudyaka ZaNorte 2012 Experience | Dipolog City

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:00:00 +0000

I was thrilled when I received an email invitation from Chino | Juanderful Pinoy to witness Hudyaka ZaNorte 2012 with other travel bloggers. It's my first Hudyaka experience! Woot!

The Hudyaka ZaNorte Festival showcases ZaNorte’s culture and people. During the festival, the province’s 25 municipalities and 2 cities come together to exhibit their richness and potentials. This year's celebration promises more fun as Zamboanga del Norte, fondly called ZaNorte by its residents, celebrates its 60th year as a province.

Here's the list of activities during the 11-day celebration of life, peace, success, and happiness.

Along with the other travel bloggers invited for the event, I enjoyed the streetdancing competition, explored the booths at the Hudyaka site featuring the bests of each municipality and city in the province, and witnessed the fireworks extravaganza during the closing ceremony.

Hudyaka ZaNorte Festival is truly the province's way of inviting people to "come to ZaNorte, come to our beautiful province, come and celebrate life!”

But beyond the Hudyaka celebration, it is ZaNorte's fun, food, and friends I met there that made the experience even more memorable.

It truly is fun in ZaNorte!

Thank you so much to the following for making all this possible:

Mr. Ralph Lorenzo Tan of Mediatrix Homes Inc;

Dr. Gerald T. Concha PhD and Atty. Dianne Concha of Rural Bank of Rizal Inc;

Mrs. Jovy Lim Concha of Big Joe's Restaurant; and

Dr. Emmanuel Quicio of Dipolog Design Center.

This project was initiate by Seven One Hundred.

NOTE

This post is part of a series on the entire Dipolog-Dapitan trip. Check out the rest of the series.

How to Get to Dipolog City (from Iligan City)
Hudyaka ZaNorte Experience
Hudyaka ZaNorte Street Dancing Competition
Sunrise and Sunset of Dipolog City

Embracing the (Mis)adventures: How To Get To Dipolog, Zamboanga del Norte

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

We were invited to witness Hudyaka ZaNorte in Dipolog! Wooohooo!!!

So how do we (Lai, Xy-Za and I) get there? Let me count the ways. ^__^

Plan A:

Bus Ride (Iligan-Mukas: 1.5hrs)

Barge (Mukas-Ozamis: 20-30 min)

Bus Ride (Ozamis-Dipolog: 4-5hrs)

That's like up to 7 loooooong hours on the road from Iligan City. [Um. No. Could there be any other way?]

Plan B:

Leave Iligan by June 6th.
Sleepover at Oroquieta City.
Be at Dipolog before lunch on the 7th.

[Sounds okay. But there would be too much work to cram for Monday and Tuesday. No.]

Plan C:

Leave Iligan by 4:30am on the 7th.
Quick stopover at Oroquieta City.
Be at Dipolog around lunchtime.

[Um. Not quite. 4:30am is too early. We'd be walking zombies by the time we arrive. No.]

Plan D: Lai found this forum. OceanJet had an Iligan-Oroquieta route of its fast crafts. Hmmm.

So depart Iligan at 6:00 am.
Arrive at Oroquieta City by 7:30am.

Enough time to wander around before heading for Dipolog shortly before lunch.
[Perfect!]

So off to the Ocean Jet office we went. And surprise, surprise!

Photo from PurpleSlipperz

First trip is at noon! There's no fast craft leaving at 6:00 AM! Change of plans...

Plan E:

Leave Iligan at by 12 noon.
Take the 2-hour bus ride from Oroquieta City to Dipolog.

[Oh-kay. We can definitely work with that. At least there's time to finish up our workload.]

By 11:00 AM, we're practically bursting with excitement. But on the way to the pier, I received a horrible text message from Lai:

Cancelled!

Oopsie! Change of plans again. For the umpteenth time.

Plan F:
Bus --> barge --> bus.

Well, Plan F is oddly familiar. Looks exactly like Plan A. Funny how it turned out we didn't actually need Plans B to E.

So... 12:00 NN. Leaving Iligan finally... by bus! :)

.
.
.
.

Fast forward 7 hrs later. This is what welcomed us:

Restreto Inn and Cafe

If this is gonna be our home for the next few days, then I'm pretty sure the Hudyaka experience in Dipolog ZaNorte will be nothing short of awesome! ;)

NOTE
This post is part of a series on the entire Dipolog-Dapitan trip. Check out the rest of the series.

How to Get to Dipolog City (from Iligan City)
Hudyaka ZaNorte Experience
Hudyaka ZaNorte Street Dancing Competition
Sunrise and Sunset of Dipolog City

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Well, here's how we (finally) got to Dipolog City from Iligan City:

Iligan City to Mukas

o Rural Non-Aircon Bus

o Travel Time: ~2 hours

o Fare: P75

Mukas to Ozamis City

o Barge

o Travel Time: ~30 min

o Fare: P25

Ozamis City to Dipolog City

o Rural Aircon Bus

o Travel Time: ~4.5 hours with quick stopovers in Jimenez, Oroquieta, Plaridel, Calamba, Sapang Dalaga, Rizal, and Dapitan

o Fare: P235

*All fares as of June 7, 2012

** We transferred buses while in the barge. J

Tourism Triangle: Tinago Falls

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 +0000

When visiting Iligan City, it is a crime to not get a chance to experience the enchanting Tinago Falls.

"Tinago" literally translates to "Hidden," which aptly describes this piece of paradise in Brgy. Ditucalan, Iligan City. Hidden within a ravine, one has to descend approximately 500 steps of stony staircase to see and swim in this incredible piece of paradise.

The waterfalls with an elevation of approximately 420 feet cascades beautifully into a basin-like pool of icy cold and clean waters of still unknown depth, where you can dive, swim, and ride a bamboo raft to the falls.

Photo grabbed from Maayong Iligan

Tinago Falls' fascinating picture-perfect beauty in a relaxing ambiance makes it worth every single sweat and sore muscles you'd probably feel the next day. No wonder this wonderful beauty got featured in Star Cinema's blockbuster film, Forever and a Day with Sam Milby and KC Concepcion. :)

If you want to feel refreshed, revitalized, and reinvigorated just before school starts, try Tinago. It's fun!

How to Get There:

From Iligan City Proper to Tinago Falls: Map: HERE

Public Utility Jeepney: Buru-un Route(fare: Php20/person) Ask the driver to drop you off at Buru-un Market (talipapa)

Habal-Habal/ Motor Ride: Php30/person

Public Utility Vehicles: Taxi (fare: 250-350Php, from city proper to the highway or to the Tinago Falls Resorts, depending on agreed fare with the driver)

Fees:

Life Jacket Rental (required if you intend to swim): Php20

Cottages/Tables: Php50

Bamboo Raft Ride: Php10person

If you want to know more, here's a bunch of links of photos, videos, and articles about Tinago Falls.

And oh, here's a little blast from the past. Find me. :p

(mid-90's @ Tinago)

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This loooooong-overdue last part of a series on the Iligan City Tourism Triangle Tour is an official Week 3 : Huling Hirit sa Tag-Init entry for Iligan Blog Carnival in celebration of Iligan Bloggers Month in May 2012.

Flowers for Mother's Day {Fresh From Mibala}

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sun, 13 May 2012 11:16:00 +0000

For one special day each year, we get a chance to honor the only real humans we know who have superpowers -- our mothers. On this day, we often show our love and appreciation through gifts. And of course, one of the first gifts for Mother’s Day that come to mind are flowers -- flowers that are as pretty as our moms and as colorful as their lives. Charoooot!

Flowers of Mibala, Tipanoy, Iligan City

Anyways, did you ever wonder where most of the fresh flowers sold in Iligan City come from? Well, one time, curiosity got the better of me and Lai | Pinay Travelista. It didn't matter that the weather was ridiculously unstable that day. We left the city proper right after lunch, when the sun was scorching hot, just a few minutes after the threats of rains died down. It didn't matter either that neither of us has ever been to Mibala. It was just one of those spontaneous (and unplanned) trips we find often find ourselves into.

Armed only with the information that the flower farm we're looking for is in Mibala, Tipanoy, we hailed a habal-habal (motorcycle) driver and hoped against hope that we will be taken there and brought back to the city proper unharmed. Kuya Dado, the driver, like us, had never been to Mibala before. Good thing he was as curious as we were, which made the so-called quest three times more exciting. We just kept asking the people we passed by for directions.

Approximately an hour after coursing our way through a combination of concrete, rough and muddy roads, we found ourselves in Mibala -- amidst rows and rows and rows of beautiful flowers. Kuya Dado, as excited as we were, joined us in taking photos of the flowers and the scenery.

The trip was cut short though with threats of rainfall. But nonetheless, the trip was so worth it!

Me + Pinay Travelista + Kuya Dado

Notes:

From the city proper, we hired a habal-habal to take us to (and from) Mibala, Tipanoy for Php 160.00.
Kuya Dado's number: 0909-890-5168
There are some parts of the trip when getting down the motorcycle and walking for a few meters would be the wiser and safer option.

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This is an official Week 2 : Mother's Day Treat entry for Iligan Blog Carnival
in celebration of Iligan Bloggers Month in May 2012.

Iligan's Best: Jacko's Crispy Squid

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Mon, 07 May 2012 06:20:00 +0000

There's so many things I love about Iligan City. And of course, food is unquestionably on top of the list. In this post, I'm sharing to you one of my favorite in the city: Crispy Squid.

Crispy Squid is certainly one must-try dish when visiting Jacko's Kan-anan in Iligan City. Before you say this post is an all-out shameless plug of a family business, let me tell you I'm not keen on doing that. Instead of feeding you information that would look copy-pasted from the website, I'm letting some of our customers tell you why Jacko's Crispy Squid is one of Iligan's bests. ;)

Xy-Za of Purple Slipperz shares:

Purple Slipperz highly recommends Jacko's Kan-anan's Crispy Squid. I have always been craving for this... It's a deep fried squid stuffed with spices, bathed in its family recipe unique sauce and topped with minced onion, bell pepper, tomato and spring onions. Hmmm... describing it in detail makes me hungry.Once you taste it, you can't get over it! Hahaha... hmmmm now I'm starving...

Source: PurpleSlipperz.com

And here's what Vic of VicMadz.com has to say:

(Iligan City) is famous because of their countless majestic waterfalls like Maria Cristina, but did you know other than those they also have Jacko’s Kan-anan? I got intrigued when a few of the CDOBloggers would talk about how heavenly their food is and yes it is indeed.

Source: vicmadz.com

Alex of ChooseIliganCity.com included food trip at Jacko's Kan-anan as one of the Top 10 Family Fun Summer Activities. Here's what he had to say:

Ever since I have tasted the food at Jacko's over at Hinaplanon, Iligan City my ever favorite is the crispy squid and the lumpia shanghai. If you are tired with the food that you can buy from the many fast foods, then, I recommend Jacko's Kan-anan.

If that isn't enough to convince you just yet, here's one post grabbed from Jacko's Kan-anan's fan page.

But wait, there's more! (LOL). Here are more photos of Crispy Squid.

[image source]

Hmmmm... Now I'm craving for crispy squid!

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This is an official Week 1 : Fruits of Labor entry for Iligan Blog Carnival in celebration of Iligan Bloggers Month in May 2012.

What happened?

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:23:00 +0000

I KNOW! No need to rub it in. This blog has been been under serious state of dormancy. It has been in coma, in hiatus, or maybe even a short period of death. Imagine a quarter of a year has passed since the last update. And before that, it took two months before I braved clicking the elusive Publish button only to join PTB Blog Carnival when I became a member in February of this year.

What happened?

Writer's block could be easily blamed, but I'm not really a writer. And even if by definition, blogger = writer, the number of draft posts I have on queue will crumble the claim of writer's block. I have had lots of stories to share, but clicking Publish just didn't feel right.

Sendong could be an easy answer as well. But no. Even before that fateful day happened and my family focused on reviving Jacko's Kan-Anan and everyone at IBS, Inc. drowned in relief operations, I admittedly have backlogs already, including the long overdue second part of Road Trip Pasalubong Stopover and the follow-up story of actually joining Blogfest 2.0. Well, on second thought, Sendong could have contributed a bit to the lack of posts. It didn't feel right to publish happy stories or scenic pictures when the rest of the city is mourning.

Seriously. What really happened?

Well, I don't know. Somehow, I got lost in a pile of to-do lists. I might have bitten much more than I could ever chew, and the blogs just had to take the backseat. In the battle of moments of relaxation versus updating blogs during not-so-busy days, "doing nothing and merely concentrating on breathing" wins hands down -- every freaking time -- to the tune of Bruno Mars' "Today, I don't feel like doing anything..." Sanity is much more valuable these days, you know. :p

But having been crazy busy with school and work and other stuff does not mean I have ceased to enjoy life. The un-updated travel blog does not mean my life has been put to a halt too. Here's just a quick summary of what had transpired over the past half year*:

11/19/11: Road Trip to Davao with family
11/25-29/11: Gensan - Davao - Bukidnon with IBS
1/14/12: CDO (food) trip with IBS
1/22/23: Midway White Beach Resort (Initao) for strategic planning
4/4-6/12: Visita Iglesia (Misamis - Bukidnon - Davao - Gen. Santos - Saranggani) with family

Iligan Appreciation Tours did not stop either -- simply because It's More FUN in Iligan. :p Voluntourism with IBS post-Sendong provided the opportunity to visit so many barangays in the hinterlands -- Rogongon, Digkilaan, Mainit, among others. And yes, I had my first chopper ride! (I could still feel the excitement writing that sentence. :p)

Then I had had food trips and photowalks around the city as well. I even took photos (and some tariffs) of hotels and other accommodations in Iligan supposedly for the master's degree I'm working on. Then of course, there's the pre-Valentine's Day visit to a flower farm and golf course in Tipanoy. And then there's the famous destinations of Timoga, Ma. Cristina, and Tinago Falls.

So yes. That means a ton of B-A-C-K-L-O-G-S. But having this list to guide me, I promise to find time to work on this. Even if that means less busy-doing-nothing time for me. ;)

*List Junkie Confession: I just have to write a list of my backlogs -- for my benefit more than yours. ; )

Until Then: On travel, love, and everything in between

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

So before February ends, let us take a shot at love and all the butter lavishly spread on it -- in a traveler's point of view of course.

the most enjoyable date.

First date. Ha! That nerve-wracking, anxiety-inducing experience everyone goes through. Sure, it's not really that big of a deal, but hey, pre-first-date jitters are totally acceptable and normal, in my book that is. Of course, first dates can make or break a potential love life. It's like that one-shot-to-seize-everything-you-ever-wanted moment, you know.

She spends hours and hours and hours trying on outfits worrying if it's too casual, too formal, or too slutty. He showers about 897 times and gargles mouthwash about 165,753 times. She ~~stalks him~~ looks him up on Facebook to take a peek on his interests and have a general idea of what he's like. He wonders if she'll survive long hikes or if she's into adventure and extreme sports. Both make mental notes of all possible topics they could delve into to avoid that dreaded awkward silence -- family, career, schools, childhood experiences, yada yada yada.

But with a traveler, first-date conversations can go beyond the got-any-brothers-or-sisters, what-do-you-do-for-a-living, and do-you-have-any-pets questions. Just ask the traveler about his/her past travel destinations. For sure, there wouldn't be a need to move on to the next topic on the prepared mental checklist. She'll talk about the weirdest food she had ever tried. He, about that drink that mysteriously caused him to crawl back home. She'll excitedly recount how her knees wobbled on her first zipline experience. He, about his misadventures on his first ever solo backpacking trip. She'll share that Vigan is her ultimate travel destination, and if it all works out, he'll be the knight in shining armor and take her there one day to make her dream come true. ~_^

the ultimate travel buddy.

GTKY (getting to know you) phase of dating is more fun with a traveler. He'll see how giddy she gets as she researches about a place he suggested over dinner. She'll notice how he gets excited with adrenaline rush in every adventure. He'll observe how she's cranky in the mornings. She'll know how he handles hangovers. For each adventure and misadventure shared, he'll get bits and pieces of her likes and dislikes as well as her attitude, personality, and culture; and likewise for her.

The traveling couple will then have the time of their lives as they explore the world. He'll take her through sunrises and sunsets. She'll take photos of his jump shots and I'm-the-king-of-the-world poses. He'll hold her hand as they fly through hot air balloons and go skydiving and parasailing. She'll convince him to try feasting on frogs and bats and then finish off the meal with maggot toffee apples.

[src]

true purpose in life.

Eventually, traveling opens the couple's eyes to the world and teaches them compassion. Her heart will break as she sees first-hand the reality of child labor. He'll witness the devastation caused by disasters. Then they start to care for issues bigger than themselves and realize that there's more to life than chasing down every temporary high (yes, that's from a Stacie Orrico song).

Then travel for them becomes more meaningful and worthwhile. The traveling nomads become agents of change. He accompanies her as she climbs mountains to bring school supplies for kids. She is there as he bikes through the hinterlands to monitor the growth of seedlings they planted a couple of years back. They inspire their friends to be involved in causes. They instill compassion in others. They spread love.

love, sweet love.

Speaking of love, together, the traveling couple learns to say I-love-you's in gazillion dialects and languages. Because learning it straight from the people who naturally speak the language is so much different from learning "Je t'aime. Te amo. I love you. Watashi wa anata o aishtemasu. Ich liebe dich. Iniibig kita. Gua ay di." through a song popularized a loooooong time ago.

Well that must have appeared to be ripped off of a page of a teen magazine -- too good to be true, unrealistic, naive. Though a part of me somehow hopes I'm the "she" found by a "he" and has this kind of happily-ever-after, a bigger part of me believes it is NOT bound to happen. Not because my birth name is a jinx for my so-called love life; nor is it because I have ceased to believe in the power of love. This love story is just too simple and predictable for me. Someone like me -- who seems to be perpetually single (but with very good reasons, I tell you) -- deserves a unique never-before-seen love story. Until God decides it's time to unfold the greatest story of all time, I shall continue to do what I do -- live, love, and travel happily.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is Travel Jam's first-ever entry for the
Pinoy Travel Bloggers' Blog Carnival.

The February 2012 Blog Carnival is
hosted by Lauren Gaile of Epic Potato
on the topic, "Why You Should Date a Traveler"

Road Trip: Pasalubong Stopovers | Davao City - Iligan City (PART 1 of 2)

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 23:41:00 +0000

Whenever we travel, souvenir stopovers are always part of the itinerary. We shop for pasalubong* for our friends and family. This is perhaps one of the most widely practiced Filipino traditions. It is customary to bring souvenir items from a recent trip.

Here are some souvenir ideas you can pass by on road trip from Davao City back to Iligan City. I did my best to document pasalubong stopovers and a few pictorial stopovers in between.

View Davao-Iligan City in a larger map

Stopover 1: CALINAN

Calinan is approximately 26 km from Davao City proper. It is said to be the fruit capital of Davao City, known for its durian and bananas.

Pasalubong Ideas: Durian and Pomelo

Tip: If you're traveling in an air-conditioned vehicle, bring an airtight container with you (or a cooler), newspaper, and packaging tape. Have the durian opened by the vendor, and place the durian flesh in a plastic bag before putting it in the container. Seal with packaging tape. Cover with layers of newspaper. ^_~

Stopover 2: SEAGULL MOUNTAIN RESORT

Seagull Mountain Resort is located in Marilog, along Buda (Bukidnon-Davao) Road. It is a perfect spot for bladder break and picture taking. They also have yummy muffins for sale.

And while you're here, you might as well take the chance to take beautiful overlooking landscape photos. At an elevation of 4000 feet, the view is unquestionably awesome. You can also help some of the kids here who sell souvenir items.

Pasalubong Ideas: Muffins from Seagull Coffee Shop (P35 each) and souvenir bracelets (P10 each)

Stopover 3: ARAKAN

Arakan is actually part of Cotabato. If you know someone who is into plants and gardening, along the highways of Arakan, you can find flowers and other plants available for sale. Sometimes, strawberry jams are also sold here.

Pasalubong Ideas: Plants and strawberry jam

Stopover 4: KITAOTAO

Kitatao is in the southern part of Bukidnon. Along the highway, there's an animal health quarantine in Lorega, Kitaotao for vehicles coming from Davao City. You can have a bladder break in their pay toilet here, and there are also a lot of souvenir items to choose from. ^__^

Pasalubong Ideas: Bracelets, wallets, baskets, cowboy hats, plants, etc.

To be continued...

*Pasalubong is a homecoming gift or souvenir brought for someone brought by a traveler returning from a trip. The word is a Tagalog term derived from the root word "salubong" which means "(to) welcome" or "to meet." The prefix "pa-" is roughly equivalent to the English suffix "-er". Thus, the word "pasalubong" can be roughly translated as "something meant for you when you welcome me back." [src]

Excited for Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0!

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:43:00 +0000

Five more days, and then I, together with the Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc., will be attending Blogfest Soccsksargen 2.0! Five days? Five days... Five days. Five days! Fiiiive daaaaaayyysss!!!!! I'm sickeningly overexcited! And there's definitely very good reasons for the excitement.

1. Blogfest 2.0 and Philippine Blog Awards in one. The year 2011, if I should say, is really bongga for my bloglife. Founded Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. in February, attended Cebu Blog Camp in May, hosted Mindanao Bloggers Summit in October, and now, I'd be hitting two birds with one stone by attending Blogfest 2.0 and the Mindanao leg of Philippine Blog Awards on November 26! Woohoo! But wait, there's more! Two blogs from IBS members have been nominated! Of course, bongga ang support for Pinay Travelista (Travel Blog) and Adventures in Life (Personal Blog) -- FULL FORCE! :p

2. This year's roster of speakers is interesting. I'm sooooo looking forward to new things I will be learning from Mr. Bob Martin, Ms. Darlene Custodio, Mr. Jack Madrid, Mr. Raffy Tima, Mr. Flow Galindez, Mr. Abe Olandres, Ms. Mae Paner, and Mr. Manolo Quezon. It's an interesting mix with someone from politics, from traditional media, in business, and even people known for their advocacy. With a theme of "The emergence of blogs and social media," I'm sure I will pick up a lot of new stuff. [Note to self: Bring your trusty notebook and notepad. Bring tons of pens just in case. :p]

3. It's an opportunity to meet the faces behind the blogs I ~~stalk~~ follow. I'm a newbie to the blogosphere, and an opportunity to join "the grandest eyeball of bloggers, online writers/publishers and social networking enthusiasts in Southern Philippines" is not to be missed. And again, there's more! On our way back from the events, we'll be dropping by Davao and Bukidnon (Lake Apo). We're contacting Davao and Bukidnon-based bloggers as well for meet-ups. :)

4. It's my first out-of-town trip with my IBS family! The core group of Iligan Bloggers Society, Inc. is one happy, clingy, boisterous bunch. Imagine the riot if you put 10 of us in one place for five days. I'm sure this is going to be soooooooooo much fun!

5. This is a chance to explore General Santos City. I must admit. This isn't my first time to visit the City of Champions. My father is from Sarangani Province, and I have cousins in the city. I lost count of the number of times I have been there. But, but, but, my prior Gensan tours are limited to KCC Mall, Gaisano Mall, and just recently, Robinson's and their city plaza. Sad (but true) story. So now is my chance to see what Gensan has to offer. ^__^

GenSan Plaza Lights, taken 05.22.2011 from this album.

And here's a bonus reason for excitement. I hope time and sense of direction will be good to me and I get to see this cutesy little baby. Makagigiiiiiil!!! Grrrrrrrrrrr...

Remembering Puerto Princesa Underground River

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:48:00 +0000

I woke up to this wonderful news a couple of days back: Palawan's Puerto Princesa Underground River made it to the provisional New7Wonders of Nature based on the first count of vote results on 11/11/11*. It flooded my newsfeed, along with tons of shout-outs showing Filipino pride.

[src]

Here's a clip of the announcement:

And here's a little background of this wonderful site:

The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (PPSRNP) is one of the most important biodiversity conservation areas of the Philippines. It features a spectacular limestone or karst landscape that contains an 8.2 km long underground river. A distinguishing feature of the river is that it flows directly into the sea, and the lower half portion of the river is brackish and subject to tidal influence. The area also represents significant habitat for biodiversity conservation. It contains a full mountain to the sea ecosystem and protects forests, which are among the most significant in Asia. [source]

I had a chance to witness this marvel a couple of years back. I, along with a few friends, joined the group of the parents of a former classmate. We totally ignored the OP-ness (if there ever is such a word) we should be feeling -- all for the Palawan dream. Good thing we did because as it turned out, there was really no reason to be OP (out of place).

There two routes on getting to the Underground River: (a) to take a boat from Sabang Pier or (b) go by foot via the Monkey or Jungle Trail. The original plan was to take the boat. Unfortunately, the waters think we need the extra exercise.

It was a good thing though because aside from burning calories, we got to enjoy the breathtaking views and lush forest. So there, we're set for a looooooooong adventure!

It started with a paddle boat ride through the mangrove to cross to the other side of the beach.

And then we need to walk along a stretch of picturesque beach...

Then climb through a wooded staircase...

And then at some point, there's fork in the path where travelers have to choose between the monkey trail and the jungle trail. We walked through the monkey trail because it's easier.

So we walked and walked and walked...

Until we reached picnic grounds near the mouth of the Underground River. We got to catch our breaths and eat and drink and rest while enjoying the view and monitor lizards and monkeys around. :)

[source]

And then finally, the calm waters greeted us! The scene would make you forget that the trail was extra looooooong for someone who has had no recent physical activities.

And then a few moments later...

We were cruising inside the underground river...

The guide pointed out many interesting stalactite/stalagmite limestone formations. There's the cathedral and the vegetable section among others. Trust me, it was awesome, magical, and simply breathtaking... every bit worthy to be listed among the New7Wonders of Nature. We oooohhhh'ed and aaaaaahhhhhh'ed and wooooooooowww'ed while inside. I would have to go back there to try to take photos na pang-travel magazine. Chos! :p

So after almost an hour in the darkness with only a handy spotlight to illuminate the way, our tour has come to an end. :)

NOTES

Amazon (South America), Halong Bay (Vietnam), Iguazo Falls (Argentina), Jeju Island (South Korea), Komodo (Indonesia) and Table Mountain (South Africa) made it to the list as well. The website noted that the stated provisional New7Wonders of Nature are listed in alphabetical order, not in any position or ranking. The voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified, and the confirmed winners will be announced starting early 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies.
Photos grabbed from various albums (Friendster days pa lang). :p
More photos HERE. Just don't mind the jejemon/emo feel of the site. :p

Bread Factory's Chocolate Bun

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 09:16:00 +0000

When passing by a bakery, we often experience the aroma of freshly baked bread. It is that enticing smell which tempts you to buy some even if you're not really hungry. Well at least that's true for an impulsive buyer (and eater?) like me.

The Bread Factory in Davao City is a recent addition to my favorite bakeshops. It has a homey feel despite being located in a mall. It is actually NCCC's (New City Commercial Corporation) specialty shop offering breads and pastries. I particularly like walking inside bakeries with self-service areas allowing customers to choose from a variety of scrumptious breads on display. The Bread Factory offers this kind of experience. :)

What really caught my eye in Bread Factory is their chocolate bun, a kind of sweet bread that is dome-shaped with a flat bottom. It reminded me of Roti Mum's coffee buns, which was delicious but pricey. I was intrigued by Bread Factory's version of this treat because it was sold at only P20 each.

The bread did not disappoint. It was freshly baked, warm, and smelled heavenly. The surface was crispy and grainy and yes, chocolate-y. When your teeth hits the core, the awesome burst of flavor comes. It was soft, and sweet, which compliments its surface. And inside the bun holds a pleasant surprise too. So worth the P20!

When you're in Davao City, do give it a try. :)

Bread Factory

Address: NCCC Main, R. Magsaysay Ave., Davao City

Telephone No: (6382) 227-1083 local 207, 305-8746

Remembering Boracay...

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000

One year ago today, I set foot in the beautiful island of Boracay.
A year ago today, I was in one of the world's best beaches.
One year ago today, I immersed in a powder white sand beach with crystal clear blue water.
A year ago today, I was in paradise. ♥♥♥

More photos here:

Boracay: Once Upon a Sem Break Slideshow: TravelJams’s trip to Boracay, Visayas, Philippines was created by TripAdvisor. See another Boracay slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

I'm dreaming of Coron, and this could be the answer.

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 03:42:00 +0000

If you have been ~~stalking~~ following me on my other blog, then perhaps you know that I've been a fan of AyosDito.ph. I've been using this site, keeping an eye open for possible investments. (Naks naman! Akala mo naman mayaman. Haha!)

Anyways, kidding aside, AyosDito.ph is truly an ideal site to "Buy, Sell, Find. Almost Anything." Vehicles, properties, gadgets, business opportunities, job opportunities, and yes, tour packages are here too. I really, really, really want to go to Coron, #Christmaswishlist. So I just checked on the options.

But something on the sidebar caught my attention today:

Lookie here! AyosDito recently launched AyosDito Connect, which is a web-based application that integrates the features of Facebook Connect with AyosDito.ph. This added feature will definitely enhance our buying and selling experience.

And then there's more. AyosDito is launching this feature with the Connect and Win promo with the coolest prizes: 1 million pesos in cash plus weekly prizes of iPhone 4's and iPad 2's. It's really super easy to join: Just log-in with your Facebook account at AyosDito.ph and register.

Here's a blow by blow account of how I joined the contest:

That 'Join the promo now!" button opens a the "log in with Facebook"window.

Upon clicking the "Log In" button of the Facebook Login window, simply click on the "Allow" button to let the AyosDito Connect application proceed to the next step.

Then, you just have to provide your complete and correct personal information requested.

Then voila! There you have it! 10 raffle entries. 10 chances of winning that iPhone or that iPad. or that 1 million pesos to take me to Coron. :)

Easy, eh? And there's even more chances of winning:

Action	Raffle Entries
Registration	10
Post an ad	10 for every approved Ad
Invite a friend	1 per approved and registered invite
Share an ad	1 per Shared ad
Be recommended	1 for every Recommend
Like an ad	1 for every Liked ad

A total of 30 x iPad 2’s, 20 iPhone 4’s and P1,000,000 in cash will be given away as prizes for the promo and will be distributed as follows:

Weekly Draws - The following will be raffled off in ten (10) weekly draws:

o 3 iPad 2’s will be raffled off to all eligible Participants with valid raffle entries for the week
o 2 iPhone 4’s will be raffled off to all eligible Participants with valid raffle entries for the week

Grand Draw

o P1,000,000 will be raffled off in the Grand Raffle on Week 10 of the promo.

So what about you? Are you joining?

Today's Craving: Aruma's Blueberry Cheesecake

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 04:24:00 +0000

I am missing Aruma's blueberry cheesecake. It is definitely, absolutely, truly, seriously to die for! The soft, creamy, cheesy flavor of the filling plays well with the crust that has just the right texture, neither soggy nor dry. I get my own piece of heaven in a small plate that has a serving of this tempting and mouth-watering dessert. :)

ARUMA COFFEE LOUNGE

Preface Building, De Leon Corner
Burgos St.,Iligan City

Tel. (063)221-7913

Map HERE.

Pilipinas, Tara Na! v.2 features Ma. Cristina Falls!

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 05:22:00 +0000

Last summer, the Department of Tourism revived a campaign that will entice more locals to travel around the Philippines. Various Filipino singers* participated in a music video shown on television and social networking sites. The campaign aims to promote destinations, festivals, local food in various Philippine regions.

I am happy that along with Bicol Region, Palawan, Bohol and Boracay, the beautiful Northern Mindanao is given prominence in the global promotion efforts. And yes, v.2 of the video campaign featured the majestic Ma. Cristina Falls of Iligan City! Woooot!

DOT's campaign truly stirred within Filipinos a renewed sense of pride in the beauty, history, and culture of our country...

So tara na, byahe tayo nang ating makita ang ganda ng Pilipinas, ang galing ng pilipino! :)

You view and listen to the first and second “Pilipinas, Tara Na!” music video by visiting the Pilipinas, Tara Na Facebook fanpage.

I'm sooooooo looking forward to the third video! I hope Tinago Falls will be featured then! ^^

**The artists who participated in this project are 6Cyclemind, Aiza Seguerra, Barbie Almalbis, Bayang Barrios, Billy Crawford, Bituin Escalante, Boboy Garovillo, Christian Bautista, Cookie Chua, Dolphy, Ebe Dancel, Gabby Alipe, Gail Blanco, Gloc-9, Itchyworms, Janno Gibbs, Jaya, Jay-R, Jed Madela, Jett Pangan, Jim Paredes, John Lesaca, Jong Cuenco, Karylle, Kevin Roy, Kitchie Nadal, Kris Lawrence, Kyla, Martin Nievera, Mike Villegas, Nikki Gil, Noel Cabangon, Ogie Alcasid, Pepe Smith, Raimund Marasigan, Regine Velasquez, Rico J. Puno, Rivermaya, Sam Concepcion, Spongecola, Yeng Constantino, and Zsa Zsa Padilla. source: http://www.gov.ph/2011/08/10/pilipinas-tara-na-music-video-to-boost-domestic-tourism/

Today's Craving: Zoey Cafe's Affogato

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 07:25:00 +0000

I need my caffeine fix, and I'm craving for Zoey Cafe's Affogato!

This coffee-based beverage or dessert takes the form of a scoop of vanilla ice cream topped with a shot of hot espresso and generous amount of whipped cream and chocolate syrup. The full name is really “affogato al cafe” or “drowned in coffee” in Italian, which aptly describes this dessert.

ZOEY CAFE

Aguinaldo St., Iligan City

Map HERE.

Pampam Falls Adventure: A Spontaneous Lakad*

noreply@blogger.com (lovette jam) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:20:00 +0000

It took just a single status message from Pinay Travelista asking where everyone was one boring Saturday. An hour or so later, Lai, Alex, Lot2 and I were all set to go waterfalling. It was gloomy and actually started to rain, but you know how hard it is to stop a bunch of people itching to go places. ^__^

Lai is actually working on a waterfalls series, hoping to visit and blog about all 23 waterfalls of Iligan. Being the ~~kaladkarin~~ supportive friends that we are, we happily tag along and end up doing a waterfalls series for ourselves as well. Haha!

Brgy. Dalipuga actually nestles three waterfalls: Pampam Falls, Dalipuga Falls, and Kalubihon Falls. We were able to see only Pampam Falls due to time constraints, which is clearly one of the downsides of spontaneous and unplanned trips. We left city proper at 2:00 p.m., and Alex and I needed to be back to attend our 6:00 p.m. class. [Note to self: Next time, plan ahead. Go earlier. Explore more.]

Pampam Falls. This beautiful waterfalls in Brgy. Dalipuga is located approximately 13 km from the city. It takes about 20 minutes of trekking to reach this place from Kalubihon Elementary School. The trail was fairly easy with only a few steep but manageable portions. We just needed the help of two local kids to guide us to the falls, and we're all set to conquer Pampam Falls!

The accessibility of this waterfalls makes it a favorite weekend destination for picnics with families and friends. It definitely is not uncommon to find teenagers enjoying the cool waters during weekends. Pinay Travelista and I also tested out the waters, and we surely loved it! Just look at that ear-to-ear smiles pasted on our faces! =p

A few meters below Pampam Falls is this cascade. I can't find the name listed in the Iligan City official website yet, but I'll surely update this post as soon as I find it. :)

There are two more waterfalls we could have visited (Dalipuga Falls and Kalubihon Falls) on that same day, but it was starting to rain so we just had to go home. Had we come earlier, we could have possibly conquered the three in a single day. We're certainly heading back... and tag along more Iligan Bloggers Society members!

Reminders:

To maximize the Waterfalls Adventures in Brgy. Dalipuga, go there earlier. Pass by Dalipuga Falls before heading to Pampam Falls (and that tiny falls we don't know the name yet). Then move to Kalubihon Falls.
Ask a local to take you to the waterfalls. It's easy to get lost in the area by missing a turn.
Bring enough food and water if you intend to stay longer. Don't forget to bring some for your guides as well. Just make sure not to leave your trash there.
Bring your camera.
Enjoy the company of the people you are with. Take the opportunity to bond. Share some laughs and sing songs. It will make the journey a whole lot lighter.
Don't push yourself too hard. Rest and water up if you must.
Above all, savor the fresh air; revel in the scenery; enjoy the experience. Smile.

How to Get There:

City Proper to Kalubihon: Ride a Kalubihon-bound jeepney. Ask to be dropped off at Kalubihon Elementary School. This is the cheapest option. However, there are only a few PUJs with Kalubihon route. Waiting time may be longer and may be uncomfortable. Fare: Php 18

City Proper to Dalipuga: Ride a PUJ bound for Dalipuga. Tell the driver to drop you off at
Kalubihon Crossing. Fare: Php 15
Then Dalipuga to Kalubihon: Ride a habal-habal (motorcycle) to Kalubihon Elementary School.
Fare: Php 10

Private Vehicle: Head to Kalubihon Elementary School.

Taxi ( fare as agreed by passenger and driver)

Trek Time: ~20-30 minutes. Trail Difficulty Level: Easy. The trek is easy with only a few steep portion.

And oh, I spent my 18th birthday here...

Eight years ago. (^__^)

lakad. (noun) trip, journey, travel; (verb) to walk, to leave on a trip, to set out for.

Photo Credit: Some photos grabbed from Pinay Travelista