Oman is an Island

My Top 15 Philippine Travel Blogs for 2013

2013-05-23T22:48:00.000+08:00

En Route • Lakwatsero • Lagalog •

Pinay Travel Junkie • Flip' n Travels

Lantaw • Backpacking Philippines • Eskapo •

Lakad Pilipinas • Flip Nomad

Soloflight Ed • Roadworthyman • The Nomadic Pinoy •

The Pinay Solo Backpacker • No Spam No Virus No Kidding

I totally agree with Melo of Out of Town Blog that choices are subjective and mainly based on personal tastes and preference. For me, travel blogs should virtually take us to the place being featured either through stunning photographs or well-written narratives that makes us feel that we are traveling with them. The above travel blogs do just that so they are "MY" Top 15 Philippine Travel Blogs for 2013.

Yakimix Food Trip

2013-05-19T16:09:00.004+08:00

Ready to Eat

Team Tax Comp @ Yakimix Podium is a perfect match made in heaven. An array of gastronomic delights against a group who is very much willing to take any sumptuous challenge... as Maki would say... "Bring it on!"

After being adjudged the winner of a Christmas Decor contest with pot price of five thousand bucks, the team decided to celebrate the victory at the eat-all-you-can japanese/korean/chinese fusion cuisine, that is, Yakimix at The Podium. Known for it's mouth-watering sushi's, tempura, and smokeless grilling of all you can assortment of sea food and meat, Yakimix is the perfect place to celebrate. Team Tax Comp loves food, so we heart Yakimix.

Sweet Tooth

Grilling Time

The Food Warriors

Yakimix has branches in Macapagal, Tomas Morato, MOA, Greenbelt, Trinoma, Masinag, SM North EDSA, Malate, Alabang Town Center and The Podium.

Prices are as follows:

Eat & Drink All You Can (Mon-Fri Lunch) P520

Eat All You Can (Mon-Fri Dinner) P620

Eat All You Can (Weekends & Holidays) P660

Eat All You Can (Kids below 4ft) P380

Eat All You Can (Kids below 3ft) FREE

Drink All You Can (Softdrinks and Juices Only) P75

Sagada Weekend Market

2013-05-15T11:30:00.000+08:00

One of the places I like to visit whenever I travel to another place is their local market because local cultures and tradition can best be observed there. It was a good thing that our visit to Sagada included Saturday because we were able to witness the Weekend Market therein. Makeshift stalls lined-up the streets from the Town Plaza all the way-up to the entrance of Saint Mary's Church. Just almost everything is offered for sale in this Saturday Market. Freshly harvested produce from local farmers dominate one area in the market where hospitable lady sellers will give you a real bargain and would even let you sample their local fruits including the famously large Sagada Oranges. Lots of delicacies are also offered like local-version of corn-in-a cob, sticky rice cakes, sesame balls, boiled peanuts and the interesting halo-halo with macaroni.

Further, wandering in the market, you will see wag-wag clothes, groceries like canned goods and various condiments, kitchen utensils, dvd and cd, poultry products, school supplies and a lot more. Definitely, with a make-shift market such as this, there is no more need for Sagada residents to go to Bontoc or other main towns of the Mountain Province to do their shopping because just about anything and everything is available at the Sagada Saturday Market.

Fresh Produce - Carrots and Potatoes

Soaps and Detergents For Sale

Various Grains and Salted Fish

Onions and Garlics in a Row

Native Noodles compete with Branded Ones

Posters, CDs, DVDs and Books

Old Sagadan Woman out to Market

For more information about Sagada, you may want to check out Visit Sagada maintained by Benj. I will wind-up this Sagada series with the picturesque Sagada Church on my next post.

Mongkok Food Trip

2013-05-04T07:06:00.000+08:00

It has been two months since I left my previous company to work for another one. I worked there for a little over two years and I was fortunate to work with some of the most dynamic persons I have known. I headed a team there composed of young, cheerful and down-to-earth individuals and collectively, we are known as "Team Tax Comp" - one of the better teams of the Company.

In these next posts. I will try to give tribute to my former Team by posting some of our memorable food trips and travels. And let me start with our lunch-out at Mongkok in Robinson's Galleria. This is kinda ironic because I will start the series with my farewell lunch we had as a group but I know for a fact that eventhough I am no longer working with them, we will still see each other and have more foodtrips together.

This is not an ad post but I do love dining at Mongkok. Whenever I had that Chinese food ala Binondo cravings, I always almost find myself in a table in Mongkok ordering some of their dimsum and partnering it with either a noodle soup or chow mein. Their wide array of dimsum includes spring rolls, siomai, sharksfin, radish cake and my favorite deep fried shrimp balls.

For their chow mein, they have cantonese, shanghai, chicken and sea food. They also have several varieties for their noodle soup such as wanton, dumpling, brisket, chicken... and so on.

For this lunch-out, we ordered crab meat with corn soup, cantonese chow mein, mongkok special fried rice, crispy pata, shrimp broccoli, spicy fried tofu, chicken feet and beef siomai.

Good food with a good company. A Binondo ambiance sans the heat. This is our Mongkok food trip experience.

Cagayan: Thousand Bats Over Pinacanauan River

2013-04-26T10:00:00.003+08:00

Serene Pinacanauan River

They say a journey of thousand miles begin at a single step. But for these bats of Pinacanauan River, the journey starts with a single flap of their wings and it happens always everyday at dusk or between five to six in the afternoon.

The Golden Hour is a medical phrase referring to the first hour after a serious accident, when it is crucial that the victim receives medical treatment in order to have a chance of surviving. But taking the phrase literally and in reference to this Cagayan trip, The Golden Hour for me now connotes two meanings.

First, it is the window of time where thousands of bats come out of the small opening in a cave situated off the bank of Pinacanauan River. That time, between five to six in the afternoon is a Golden Hour because seeing thousands of bats flying-out of the cave and into the forest in unison is truly a sight to behold. Although, the entire spectacle would last only for about three minutes, still the experience of witnessing such display is just amazing.

Sesondly, taking the phrase in its more literal sense, the Golden Hour is the time where the fading glow of the sun reflects its rays on a still river turning the sky and the reflection on the river into a golden scene. And if you happen to be riding in a boat that is silently wading into the same river and facing the sky where the sun just set, the hour you have experienced can truly be considered golden.

Do enjoy the photos...

The Cave Sink Hole Where Bats Come Out

Travel Buddy

Thousands and Thousands of Mini Bats

Minutes of Endless Icks

Into The Forest

Approaching Dusk

Golden River

Scenic Dusk by the River

Wait, there is more... here is a cellphone video of the actual scene. Pardon the shaky capture. Enjoy!

Cagayan: Penablanca's Callao Cave

2013-03-28T21:57:00.006+08:00

The Altar

What is wet, smelly, dark, has opening and if you enter it you will be near heaven? If you answered the Callao Cave in Penablanca, Cagayan - then, you are absolutely correct.

Modest Chapel Inside The Cave

Jagged Rocks Upside Down

Callao Cave is a cave with seven chambers and is one of the best known tourist attractions of Cagayan Province. It is located in Barangays Magdalo and Quibal in Peñablanca which is about an hour away from Tuguegarao City, the capital city of the Province of Cagayan.

Creature Figure

The Cave Is Alive

What made Callao Cave different from other caves is that it has a natural cathedral located at the first chamber, which was turned into a chapel by the local people. It has a natural crevice that let light inside the cave. In fact, Every chamber has natural crevices, which let light get into the cave, serving as illumination for the otherwise dark areas of the place.

The Guard

Dino-Like Structures

And going deeper inside the cave, you will marvel at the huge stalactites and stalagmites which are still growing and alive. Using your imagination, you can spot images formed from these such as rockets, dinosaurs, little people and the likes. Truly, an amazing place to enjoy.

The Pride of Penablanca

And finally, since we are celebrating Holy Week, let us take time out to reflect on God's love and forgiveness. On how Jesus' death and resurrection impacted ourlives. And specially if you answered my above question differently.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever shall believe in Him shall not perish but will have an everlasting live" - John 3:16.

Palawan : Port Barton's Bigaho Waterfalls

2013-03-17T14:37:00.002+08:00

The Enchanting Bigaho Waterfalls

To continue where I left off (oh boy, that was a long time), let me feature the second waterfalls I have visited in Port Barton - the Bigaho Waterfalls located in, well, Sitio Bigaho.

Au Naturel

Misty Magical

While Pamoayan Waterfalls is bigger and longer, Bigaho Waterfalls has more cascades and rock formations so I like it better. In fact, it is a photographer's paradise because every corner provides a photo opportunity with combinations of boulders of all sizes coupled with flowing waters above it. And if you have noticed in the first photo, there was even a boulder that resembles a contoured-face. Can you spot it?

Cascades Everywhere

Fountain Falls

Also, there is a thick foliage of greens that seems to protect the falls from the sun so shooting the place in a somber mood does not impose any problem. The problem is, in a place like this, you just want to forget shooting and just lay there or laze around and just appreciate one of mother nature's gift to mankind.

Cottony Soft

Bigaho Waterfalls can be reached via a twenty-minute boat ride from Port Barton proper and then a short and easy 15-minute trek from the white sand beaches of Sitio Bigaho up the Water Falls. There is no regular boat ride to Bigaho so you need to rent a boat for about 500 pesos to get you there. Or when you opt for am island-hopping package, you may ask your boatman to include Bigaho in your itinerary because going in Bigaho Waterfalls could very well be one of the highlights of your Port Barton experience because it definitely was one of mine.

Palawan: Port Barton's Pamoayan Waterfalls

2013-02-24T22:43:00.001+08:00

Port Barton's Pride

Port Barton has a couple on interesting Waterfalls that can spice-up your visit. One can be reached by trekking for a little over an hour on a lush forest while the other can be reached by boat and a short trek. And since I do love chasing waterfalls (no pun intended), I visited both. I will feature the former here and the latter in my next post.

Cystal Clear Cascades

Pamoayan Water Falls is Port Barton's tallest Falls that continuously drops about seventeen (17) meters of pure cold forest water. Although, not as wide as some other Falls that I have visited, Pamoayan can hold its own allure as it is surrounded by lush forests and vegetations from the top as it drops to cream-colored boulders below.

Long and Slender

This Falls can be reached by trekking through its covered foliage. The jump-off point shall be at the left side of the beach. Depending on your fitness level, the Falls can be reached in no more than couple of hours. First timers may need a guide for there are couple of turns in there that will lead you elsewhere. But if you are adventurous enough, you may do it alone and just follow the path where the water leads. Of course, it pays to mark your way specially if there is a fork on the road and you do not know which way to go. As a matter of fact, my American neighbors whom I met when I was going back from the Falls said they got lost and was not able to see the Falls.

Cotton-like Flows

The walking trail to the Falls is incomplete and there are several falling trees on the way so even motorcycles or bikes can't pass through it. Other than the fallen trees, there are several huge boulders on the way specially on the later part of the trek. You can ride bikes for the equivalent of the first two minutes of walking but you need to go on foot all the way to the Falls.

Refreshing Sight

The folks of Port Barton sometimes refer to Pamoayan Falls as the majestic one because it is the taller of its two most visited falls. And they say that during rainy days, the drop gets wider and really a sight to behold. There are also several cascades below and some transforms into a natural pool where one could take a refreshing dip after an hour's trek. You could also refresh yourself in what appears like a shallow portion of the couldron near the falls but you have to be very careful because it suddenly drops deeper than expected. Further, it is inhabited by some eels and that the surrounding boulders are too slippery and a wrong step coupled with the force of the dropping waters could do you some damage.

Your Blogger is All Smiles

At any rate, Pamoayan Waterfalls is a welcome addition to things that you can do in Port Barton. Whether you just like to hike and be rewarded with refreshing sight or took pictures of one of Mother Nature's gifts. But if you are the latter, it is better to go there very early in the morning where the lighting is at its best and you can capture the somber mood of the Pamoayan in all its glory.

Palawan : Port Barton... Paradise!

2013-02-02T21:41:00.001+08:00

Surrender in Paradise

I have been to paradise... even for just a couple of days. Going there is hard but leaving it is much, much harder. I only have good things to say about Port Barton and I feel that even what I say would not justify the beauty of the place. It is paradise in its simplest sense.

Dusky Reflections

Blues Hues

Al Fresco to the Nth Power

Port Barton is essentially a one-road town where the jungle drops precipitously into the bay. And as Reader's Digest would define it, it is the kind of place where after just a few strolls down the beach you feel you don't want to share the tranquility with outsiders.

Golden Hour

Golden Reflections

Illuminous

The word tranquility hits the spot. Every period of the day is a scene waiting to unfold. From the rising of the sun coming from the mountains and forests to the setting of the sun right in front of the beach where you may either lie or sit waiting.

Somber Blue

Morning Has Broken

Humble Accomodation

And in between sunrise and sunset, the laidback atmosphere of the place will either induce you to sleep or do moderate activities like strolling into into its white-sanded beach or hut-hopping at its friendly community. Or if you are interested in other beach activities, it also offers Island-Hopping and snorkling to guests.

The Other Side

'Amma Beach

Lazada Online Shopping, As Easy As 1-2-3!

2013-01-31T15:25:00.000+08:00

The advent of technology made multi-tasking so easy. Who would ever thought that there wil come a time that you could work and shop at the same time? Before, you need to get out of your 9-5 job and rush to the nearest mall just to shop and get the things that you want. But now, a ten-minute break (or less) from work is all you need to do your shopping and without breaking a sweat, everything is done with lots of time to spare. But wait, there is more...

Before spending those hard-earned money thru online-shopping, be sure to do your shopping at Lazada. Lazada Philippines is a Philippines' Online Shopping Mall that is growing fast and bigger all over the country. They provide convenient shopping, free delivery available, 7 days return policy, cash on delivery service, and best of all a worry-free shopping experience from a grand selection of products online. With Lazada, you can shop anytime and anywhere! Find the best offers in books, computers, electronics, phones & accessories, home & living, toys, kids & babies, travel & luggage, health & beauty, jewellery & watches, fashion, sports and of course, my favorite stuff, cameras and accessories.

Their wide array of selection includes cameras, lens and accessories from top of the line products such as Canon, Nikon, Samsung, Sony and other brands. Their easy navigable menus will have you find what you are looking for easily. They also have customized search engines that allows you to shop within your budget. And most of all, you can easily compare and contrast products that you want. So easy as 1-2-3.

And most of all, Lazada offers you a stress-free and extremely safe way to shop online. With their secured website, users are guaranteed secured transactions. Offering a variety of payment options including Credit Card, Dragonpay, G-cash, Bank Transfers, and Cash on Delivery, you can pick which payment option best suits your needs. Best of all, the price you see at checkout is final, as you will enjoy free delivery no matter what part of the Philippines you are in. Best of all, you can return your order within 7 days of your receipt of the item. If the product was defective/damaged or we delivered the wrong item we will refund you the delivery costs.

Shopping online in the Philippines doesn't get any better than this!

For more info, please check Lazada at the following:

Webpage: www.lazada.com.ph

Facebook: www.facebook.com/LazadaPH

Twitter: www.twitter.com/LazadaPH

The Corregidor Walking Tour: Of Bombs, Big Guns & Lost Gold!

2013-01-26T22:14:00.004+08:00

I first met Ivan Man Dy in 2009 when he invited me along with several travel bloggers in a tour in Malacanang Palace. It was an educational tour where we do the walking and Ivan do the talking. It was an informative day highlighted by the fact that we actually met and was greeted by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. So when Ivan sent me an e-mail for another Walking Tour, this time in Corregidor, I instantly said yes.

Spanish Lighthouse

A Flip-Board and the Mile-Long Barracks

'Of Bombs, Big Guns and Lost Gold: WWII Tales Declassified ' is the 6th installment in the Old Manila Walks historical tour series. This is a collaboration between Corregidor's main logistical and tour provider, Sun Cruises and Old Manila Walks- the city's leading historical/cultural tour outfit. Unlike the bus tour which takes you on a general overview of the whole island, this historical hike is essentially concentrated on the war memorial zone (aka the historic core) of the island and uses this setting as a backdrop in the discussion of the WWII theme of the walk.

The Brothers in Arms Statue as Seen from Cine Corregidor

Inside Bachelor's Barracks

This tour provides for a broader,more chronological, contextual, insightful and perhaps even critical understanding of WWII in the country through the use of creative visuals backed by a multi-discilpinary approach to historical interpretation (e.g. combining millitary as well as social,cultural and architectural history). It's an exercise for both the body and for the mind.

Big Guns of Battery Way

Sun Cruise Tram in front of the Old Hospital

The Walking Tour starts at the Spanish Lighthouse which is located at the highest point of Corregidor Island. The tour will then walk you through several historical landmarks such as the Spanish Flagpole, Bachelor's Barracks, Cine Corregidor, Mile-Long Barracks, Battery Way, Old Hospital, Pacific War Memorial and Museum and will culminate at the Eternal Flame Monument.

Walking in the Outskirts

Pacific War Memorial

In every step of the way, Ivan will tell you stories about military strategies, enemy invasions, lost treasure and conspiracy theories. I am even tempted to tell you some of the historical ironies, secrets and deceptive propaganda about the war that Ivan has excitingly told us but that will spoil the fun.

Eternal Flame Monument

The tour costs an affordable Php 1,750.00 per head and is inclusive of the Guided Tour, Ferry Transfers and Island Entrance Fee. Buffet Lunch at Corregidor Inn is OPTIONAL (not inclusive) and maybe availed prior at P450.00 per head. Plated lunch options are available too. The tour is scheduled to be offered by February 2013 with initial runs every weekends (Sundays).

For more information including inquiries and reservations, you may contact Ivan at the following:

website: www.oldmanilawalks.com

e-mail: fun@oldmanilawalks.com

mobile 0918-962-64-52 (that's 0918-9MANILA)

landline: (632) 711-38-23

facebook: Old Manila Walks

My Top 10 Travels of 2012

2013-01-20T11:07:00.003+08:00

"It's more fun in the Philippines." A traveler's slogan that may seem overused but nevertheless true in its every sense - from the places we visit, the people we meet and the memories we experience. And when it comes to fun, the year 2012 gave me some memorable fun in traveling and that I am blessed to have record such fun through my photography. And among, the places I have visited around the Philippines in 2012, here are my Top 10:

I consider my trip to Palawan particularly to Port Barton and San Vicente as my top travel for 2012. I had high expectations of the place from what I have read on-line and in books/magazines so I really made an effort to visit the place. Lonely Planet described it as "a kind of place where after just a few strolls down the beach you feel you don't want to share this tranquility with outsiders". And it certainly holds true as if I am the one saying it. But Port Barton offers more than just beaches for there are couple of Waterfalls in there that were worthy to explore.

I love Marinduque. Although going there during Lenten Season is a test of patience and endurance, all your hardship will be worth it when you land in this heart-shaped island. From the Moriones Festival to its many adventurous or laid-back attractions, this Island will never disappoint.

Wickedly-fun is how I describe Tibiao in Antique. I immensely enjoyed my trip there and had fun in the river and in Bugtong Bato Falls. But the highlight of my trip there would definitely be the Hot Kawa Bath where I bathe in a hot kawa full of herbal leaves while an actual fire is underneath resembling a captured human meal just about to be cooked by tribal cannibals.

Boracay was on top of my list a couple of years back and every visit here truly deserved to be in every Top 10 lists by almost everyone. For one, it is dubbed the best Island in the World and it will not have that monicker if it does not have perfect sunsets every day, gloriously long and fine white sand beaches and party-people occupying almost any available space on the beach front.

Tabuk is famous for its mighty Chico River. But on this trip, I never did any water-related activity but just enjoyed the sweeping view of the mountains and the river that runs through it. Just a little under an hour hike on its Tourism Park will enable you to have a bird's eye view of Tabuk and its neighboring vicinity.

Because of an impending storm warning, the trip to Mount Pulag was cancelled and diverted instead to Mount Romelo in Laguna. Although the climb up there was made tedious by the muddy path, the scene once you reach the camp place is pure nirvana. A couple of amazing Waterfalls also awaits those who persist.

The scenic crater and the stunning landscape created by easily eroded lahar flow is just half the fun of this trip. The other half is provided by the experience of traveling with more than a dozen Pinoy Travel Bloggers Bagets. This was my first time to travel with such a big group and that it was awesome to finally matched a face with a blog.

The Penablanca trip was one of the last trips I made for 2012. There are more than three hundred caves in this laid-back town and the Callao Cave is the most famous and most visited among them. Callao Cave is reached by walking up 184 steps and several sinkholes illuminate the cavernous chambers, one of which houses a little chapel with pews and an altar. Also worth experiencing is to witness thousands of bats pour out of the caves for a flight over the Pinacanauan River at dusk.

A trip to the heritage town of Boljoon in Cebu is an awe-inspiring experience because you can't help to be grateful and appreciative of the efforts that the locals there have put up just to preserve the place. From the century old Boljoon Church to the old houses and structures within the area, it seemed like you travel backed in time. This is a good example for the rest of the country to learn of how a heritage site should be preserved.

This is more of a re-union trip with my best travel buddies done in one (make it two) of our favorite places in Nueva Vizcaya. The nature-at-its-best Imugan remained to be the same the last time we have visited it with its Waterfalls as clean and refreshing as ever. The Malico Pine Forest also remained people-less and as eerie (in a safe kind of way) as the last time we were there.

Travel Factor New Year Party

2013-01-08T20:23:00.003+08:00

Travel Factor, the leading adventure travel company in the Philippines, is celebrating its 6th year with its annual New Year Party!

This will be on Saturday night, Jan 12, 2013 at B-Side, The Collective. Awesome performers include Coffee Break Island, Stickfiggas, The Discoball, Goodleaf, Maude, Paranoid City and Romcom. DJ Joey Santos and DJ Niki Rojas will provide the wild dance beats.

Travel Factor will be giving out tickets from Victory Liner and awesome prizes from Para'Kito, Otter Box, Headware and San Juan Surf Resort. Travel Factor shirts, gift certificates and trips shall also be raffled off!

For more details, check out www.travelfactor.org.

See You There!!!

7 Years of Blogging - From Journeys To Island

2013-01-05T18:16:00.003+08:00

Today this blog turns "Seven". Lucky Seven if I may add because I never thought that this blog will last this long. I mean, back in the infancy stage of this blog, there were only few photo-travel bloggers around that having a travel-blog back then was already an accomplishment by itself.

But now, everyone who has a camera (even on a phone) and has gone to a couple of places outside Manila who blogs about his experience on-line is already a photo-travel blogger. Don't get me wrong, I am not complaining, more definitely is merrier and it up to us (old bloggers ugh) to keep pace and try to improve the contents of our blog.

I said I never thought this blog will last this long because it is hard maintaining a travel blog while keeping a full-time lawyering job. But since traveling and photography are passions, I will always find a way to sneak them in my schedule and try my best to share even half of them thru pictures and stories on-line.

Seven. Jaworski's number. (Yes, I was once a die-hard Ginebra fan in the 90s). It is also considered one of the luckiest number - seventh heaven, seven wonders, seven seas, seven chakras to name a few. It is trivial number too with the themes of the games revolving around it. And speaking of trivia coupled with other random things, here are seven trivial things I want to share with you:

1. We are SEVEN in the family. My parents, three boys and two girls.

2. I was born in the SEVENtees.

3. I took my oath as a lawyer in Year Two Thousand SEVEN (2007).

4. My family name has SEVEN letters.

5. My height is Five Foot SEVEN Inches and my weight is SEVENty-two kilos.

6. The region where I came from (Central Luzon) has SEVEN provinces.

7. I never took kindergarten or preparatory classes as a kid. I enrolled straight to Grade 1 in Elemetary School and I was SEVEN years old back then.

Now, on to wish lists and favorites:

1. 7 Favorite Male Travel Bloggers - Ferdz, Dong Ho, Oggie, Allan, Erick, Ron Cruz and Edcel.

2. 7 Favorite Female Travel Bloggers - Chyng, Gay, Gael, Monette, Doi, Sheng and Mica.

3. 7 Favorite Places I Have Been To - Calaguas, Port Barton, Adams, Bantayan Island, Boracay, Lake Sebu and Basilan.

4. 7 Places on My Bucket List - Batanes, Siargao, Guimaras, Coron, Sorsogon, Tawi-tawi and Biri Island. 5. 7 Things I lost on a trip - DSLR, Iphone, Nokia Cellphone, Wide Angle Lens, Prime Lens, 70-300 Lens, Lonely Planet Book.

6. 7 Traveling Dreams - to climb Mount Everest, to see the pyramids of Egypt, to surf in Hawaii, to roam around New York, to stay in African Safari, to witness Brazil's Mardi Gras, to get lost in an old Japanese village.

7. 7 valuable lessons I learned from traveling - (a) respect differences, (b) smile but learn to say no, (c) flexibility, things may not go according to plan , (d) immerse in their culture, (e) bring money and basic essentials, (f) research, research and more research (g) leave a favorable impression.

And finally, there is no better way to celebrate this blog's 7th year than indulging in lunch buffet at SEVEN Corners in Crowne Plaza:

Believe me, I tried to down seven plates of sumptuous meals but I can no longer go on after the fourth plate with a well-done beef steak, pan-fried hungarian sausage and mashed potato on it. 7 Corners offers different international cuisine but their steak is the star of the feast. It is located in Ortigas just beside Robinson's Mall and a walking distance from Galleria Corporate Center where I work.

Finally, let me thank everyone who has visited this blog in the last seven years and may you continue visiting and reading this blog for seven more years... and another seven years after that.

Ciao everyone and I think I'll pass seven 7-11 stores on my way home for good measure haha :)

2012 Year-End Review

2012-12-31T16:30:00.000+08:00

A little bit of everything... is how I sum-up my 2012. Some were stricken-off my bucket lists while some, because of work and other matters, remain to be elusive. But all-in-all, while I do scrap some of my planned trips during the year, I could say that 2012 is a pretty good year travel-wise.

Of course, I am anticipating some big changes to happen in 2013 so traveling, health and life will no longer take the back seat. But for now, here is a look-back of some of the travels and other things that transpired in 2012:

I always have this love affair with Waterfalls and I have visited more than half a dozen of them in 2012. I particularly love Bigaho Waterfalls in Port Barton and the Buruwusin Falls in Laguna. I also had a great time with Bugtong Bato Falls in Antique, Papuwayan Falls in Port Barton and Lanzones Falls also in Laguna. I also visited Imugan Falls of Nueva Vizcaya for the second time this year. If someone will ask you what is the best way to have me surely say yes on a trip - just say the magic word - Waterfalls.

Amabeach and amalayket. The highlight of my beach experience this year would have to be my motorcycle-riding experience in the longest white beach in the Philippines in San Vicente, Palawan. And for good measure, I also took some time in the country's most popular party beach, that is, Boracay. Of course, for some quiet time, the Laiya White Beach in Batangas and Poctoy White Beach in Marinduque provided the balance.

The trek-up in the mountains provide some "me"-time where I commune with nature while conquring obstacles along the way. And this year, the obstacles would be the knee-deep mud in Mount Romelo, the searing heat of Mount Sembrano, the lahar-laden path of Mount Pinatubo, some wild cows in Tabuk and the eerie fogs in Malico. But all these obstacles will turn into an accomplishment once you reach the summit for nothing will compare to the feelings I got once I am on top.

Visiting the multi-chambered Callao Cave in Cagayan should be experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime. The stalactites and stalagmites in that cave is so enormous and they still continue to grow. And while in the area, a short boat ride will enable you to witness thousands of bats flying out of a cave opening in Pinacanauan River. Also this year, I was able to visit Secret Cave, Cathedral Cave and Python Cave in Sta. Cruz, Marinduque.

The Philippines has some of the best sunsets from the famed Manila Bay to the daily sky shows of Boracay. I truly enjoyed my feature 30 days of Sunset in this blog where I shared 30 photos of sunset taken in Boracay. Although some of the best sunsets I witnessed this year happened without me holding a camera, still I was lucky enough to captured some in Port Barton, Poctoy and Cagayan.

Every Christian love his church and I am no different. But I always gave century-old churches second look, well make it second shot. I was lucky enough to visit the heritage Boljoon Church in Cebu and see the magnificent facade of Tumauini Church and Boac Cathedral. Also worth mentioning from the churches I visited this year are the Jaro Metropolitan Church in Iloilo, St. Williams Cathedral in Tabuk and the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Puerto Princesa.

What is travel without tasting their local dishes and delicacies? It is always a must to try local food when traveling, from the Bulalo of Batangas to the Batil Patong of Tuguegarao, from Arrowroot Cookies of Marinduque to the Chicken Binakol of Antique - all worth tasting. The foodtrip doesn't stop in the Metro too because some of the best finds from Binondo to Makati were also explored with friends below.

Although I love traveling solo, sometimes, I get by with a little help from my friends. From my regular travel buddies Dong, Ferdz, Erick, Oggie and Allan, my circle of traveling friends immensely widened this year mainly because of the PTB Bagets. Traveling with them in Pinatubo was a worthy experience for I got the chance to see the faces behind the blog, and as I expected, although we come from different background and profession, the passion for traveling bind us all together.

Atbp stands for all other things that I have experienced for the first time this year. From seeing the Moriones Festival in Marinduque to visiting the first Rizal Monument in Daet. And who would ever thought that I will cook myself in a kawa in Antique. Also, this is the first time that I was able to host some of my office mates on a trip to Cabanatuan and nearby Dingalan so that I could share my passion of traveling with them.

A little bit of everything. Sakto lang! Enough to satiate that crave for traveling but not enough for a person with wandering feet like me. Hope 2013 would be a good year for all of us. Good Bye 2012 ans Welcome 2013!

Merry Christmas!

2012-12-24T04:42:00.002+08:00

Christmas is no longer the same. One by one we go. But distance is never a hindrance to celebrate His birth for He is the reason for the holiday season.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Makati: Ayala Enchanting Lights and Sound Show 2012

2012-12-16T22:39:00.004+08:00

Curtain of Lights

This time of the year, the Ayala Triangle Gardens turns into an enchanting place surrounded by thousands of lights and colorful spheres that gives an impression that they are floating in the air.

With a medley of popular Christmas carols filling the air, the trees of the park came to life with all these lights that seem to dance in unison with the Christmas carols.

All the colors of the rainbow are present in the show. And other the the Christmas lights, everyone enjoyed the laser show with a 3D effect. This truly is a different scene from the usual sky scrapers in Makati's business district and something we should be proud of because the design and concept were all Filipino-made.

This is the fourth staging of the annual event and the theme this year is a combination of the past three light shows with more colors to boost. The people behind the event wanted to share the Christmas spirit with people and they want those who live, work and come to Makati to be able to enjoy the show.

Thousand Lights in Unison

Many Merry

Lights and Spheres

Fiery Glow

Red There Be Light

Blues Clues

Lights and Sound Show

Specting the Spectacles

The Lights and Soundshow happens everyday and every 30 minutes from 6 PM to 9 PM. It will run until December 30, 2012. And best of all - it's free.

A Tale of Two Pansit Batil Patong

2012-12-09T01:08:00.002+08:00

Tuguegarao's Pancit Batil Patong

This is it pansit!

Two versions of a regional treat but each done differently. Of course, both has the same main ingredient of noodles and sunny-side-up egg. And both is accompanied by a soup stock resembling an egg drop but the taste and the similarity ends there. Pansit Batil Patong is known to originate from Tuguegarao City so it is also called Pansit Tuguegarao. Almost every corner of the main streets in the City has panciteria which serves this plateful of delicacy.

The Tuguegarao version of presenting this dish usually involve first laying the noodle on the plate and topping it off with assorted mix of vegetables such as mongo sprouts, beans, carrots and diced beef and pork meat and liver. A slighly-cooked egg is then put on top of the dish.

Tabuk's Pancit Batil Patong

The Tabuk City version is more potent because it has more meat. The presentation on the plate usually involved laying the sauteed noodle and vegetables such as carrots and cabbage on the plate, then topped with sunny-side-up egg, then covered with a mixture of sauteed ground pork and liver and crunchy bits of pork rinds. This is then served with diced onions on the side.

Which one I like better? The Tuguegarao version is tastes somewhat similar to what I am accustomed to. The only thing different about it is that it has mongo sprouts and an egg on top. Remove these two ingredients and you almost have a pancit guisado - tagalog style. The Tabuk version on the other hand can best be described as pancit canton topped with sisig. Imagine a mixture of crunchy sisig and pancit canton and you will have somewhat of a Tabuk version.

My verdict? The former would be great as a merienda while the latter would make a great pulutan during alcohol-laded merry-making tryst.

How about you? Which do you think is better?

Someday...

2012-11-30T11:57:00.000+08:00

...soon!

Cebu: Heritage Town of Boljoon

2012-11-18T09:20:00.000+08:00

Cebu's Premier Heritage Town

I always wanted to go to Boljoon. I have heard so much about the place specially on how the locals there do a concerted effort to preserve the place. Even before Oslob became famous for those gentle whalesharks, Boljoon has always been at the back of my mind whenever I travel Cebu. And why not, it is the home of the oldest remaining original stone church in Cebu.

Boljoon Church

Preserved Old House

Trumpheting Arch Angels

Boljoon Church is a sight to behold because it is situated between the mountains and the sea. In its vicinity are old houses, the quaint Bermejo Park and other preserved structures. Wikipedia could not describe it more accurately by stating that Boljoon Church shows old and intricate carvings and bass relief. It is in a pseudo-baroque rococo style. The interior is decorated beautifully. It has a main nave, a transcript, and twenty-eight pillars which support the walls. The walls are as thick as the pillars which are two meters thick and made of mortar and lime.

Skulled Walls

Back Cemetery

Church Interior

At the back of the church is a cemetery where the remains of the prominent who's who in town are buried. Fronting the cemetery is a century old arch and thick walls with design of skulls and bones. There are only few remains left there and it is presently undergoing renovations.

Ceiling Art

Century-Aged Arch to Cemetery

In 1999, the National Historical Institute declared it a National Historical Landmark. The National Museum declared it as a National Cultural Treasure in 2000.

Palawan: San Vicente Long Beach

2012-11-11T00:47:00.000+08:00

Serene

From Alimanguan to Pinagmangalokan is a stretch of fourteen kilometers of white beach which is reputably the longest beach in the Philipppines. As if Palawan is not loaded enough with lots of natural attractions, Tabon Cave, Underground River and Coron to name a few, add to that is this longest beach in the country, thus, Palawan will be hard to beat as the premier province for eco-tourism.

14 Kilometers

Long and Wide

By now you know that I love beaches. From the more famous ones to the less touristy ones. And by the sheer novelty of it, I gotta see the longest white beach of the Philippines.Boracay White Beach has four kilometers and pure and fine white beach while Mahabang Buhangin in Calaguas probably has half of that. And just the thought of stepping into a stretch of white beach that is more than three times longer than Boracay White Beach or about seven times longer than the beach in Calaguas is well, exciting.

Paradise Not Lost

Pull-out the Fishes

My plan was just walk in the beach from end to end and estimated that it would probably take me a couple of hours but some locals suggest that it would be better to rent a motorcycle and drive from one end of the beach to the other.

Upside Down

Honda Prestige

At first I hesitated because the mere thought of riding motorcycle in the sand might not be a good idea because I thought the the wheels of the motorcycle might get stuck on the courseness of the sand. But to my surprise, the sand is very compact and your motorcycle can easily navigate its way to the beach.

Dreamland

Writings on the Sand

Although it would be a perfect setting to ride from one end of the beach to the other one, there will be spoilers because there are some parts of the beach that has streams of fresh water leading to the sea so you haveno choice but to turn back to the adjacent dirt road and turn to the beach front again. But I guess, wishes doesn't always come to reality. :)

Me and I

At present, Long Beach is still undeveloped and wandering from one point to another is free. But locals foresee a development in the place considering that most beach fronts are now privately owned. I just hope that the serenity of the place won't be affected by the development that will take place. Wishful thinking?

Palawan: Ridin' Honda at the Philippines' Longest Beach

2012-11-06T18:31:00.000+08:00

San Vicente's Loooooooong Beach

Palawan: Good Morning San Vicente

2012-10-28T13:01:00.001+08:00

San Vicente, Palawan

What does your typical morning look like? In my case, six days a week, it's always the same - people in the rush as they try to beat their bundee clock. And in the process, there is the never-ending exodus of cars, buses, motorcycles and what-have-yous that typically converge on EDSA. Chaos. But for that one other day of the week, it is different. It should be different. And it should look like these:

What a Perfect Morning Should Look Like

Rocky Shore into the Horizon

Laidback is an Understatement

Walk This Way

Subtle and Calm Morning

Solitary in Sepia

Morning Has Finally Broken

Good Morning from San Vicente, Palawan - home of the Philippines's longest beach. A laidback town where everyone seems to know everybody and a place where the word "chaos" is nonexistent.

However, to go there is an adventure in itself. From Puerto Princesa Bus Terminal, there are buses going straight to San Vicente (Php 200 one-way). Estimated time is four hours - that is, if the bus doesn't have stop-overs. But in our case, we had two flat tires along the way. And when you enter the vicinity of San Vicente starting with Barangay Alimanguhan, each passenger will alight in front of their own houses and they will unload all their packages and things from the bus. There are even folks lined-up on the street waiting for the bus to pass because they have a package of their own too. So basically, that is about an hour of constant stop-over in that stretch of the trip. I left Puerto Princesa at 1PM and I arrived at San Vicente at around 7:30 pm, so yeah, that is an estimated four hours of travel, more or more.

Acommodation is not a problem in San Vicente because there are several lodging houses in the port area. I stayed at Picardal Lodge (Look for Francis 0919-239-2224/francis_rique@yahoo.com). It was already night time so there is nothing much to do there at night other than walking on the port area and enjoying some veggie-balls at the lonesome cart near the port. By the way, there are still limited electricity in town which starts at 6 pm and shuts down again at 12 midnight.

While the place may be uneventful at night, the place turns into a different one when morning comes. Enjoy the pics.

Aklan: It's Boracay, Not Bora

2012-10-20T07:45:00.000+08:00

Life Guard Tower with a Native Twist

Call me a beach-chaser with penchant for finding beaches within off-the-beaten paths. And with more than Seven Thousand Islands islands in it's archipelago, it will take more than a lifetime to chase all of them.

From the international traveler's point of view, Boracay is undoubtedly the queen of all beaches on the country. As proof, readers of Travel+Leisure Magazine named Boracay as the Best Island in the World for 2012 beating out other beach-laden islands like Bali, Maui and Santorini.

Boracay's White Beach

Of course, as Filipinos, we should all be proud of this honor but with such acclaim comes the downside too like over-crowding and higher cost of almost everything there. Some even label it as a non-haven for backpackers. But then again, a backpacker will always find a way and enjoy the place given a limited budget because the island's nooks and cranny can offer some of the thriftier alternatives.

Here are some of my unsolicited tips:

I Love Boracay Bracelets

1. Accomodations. Sad to say, tents are not allowed on the beach area so your best bet is to find the cheapest hub. Once you arrive in the island, lot's of people will approach you and will offer you their services to find a place for you. They are usually commissioned by the tourism office and that you are not obliged to give them any tip because they do get some sort of a commission from the lodging owners. During peak season, they can come in handy because they know the place but during low-peak season, it would be better to scout lodging places on your own and haggle. Station 3 offers the lowest rates for accommodations and usually, places farthest from the beach is cheaper.

I Love Boracay... and Cebu... and Davao ... and...

2. Foods. Andoks, Andoks and more Andoks. But if you get tired of the usual value meal, there are these carinderia/eateries offering home-cooked meals located on the side street of Station 2 heading to the main road. Also, when night comes, there are establishments in the area (mostly in Station 2) that offers eat-all-you treats for two hundred bucks only. So if two hundred bucks is your budget for food for the day, you can skip lunch and wait for its earliest opening.

They come in China Pens Too

3. Beach activities such as Banana Ride, Flying Fish, Island Hopping. The rule of "the more the cheaper" certainly applies here so you can group yourselves with tourists there and share the costs of fun. A thousand shared by five is definitely lesser than a thousand shared by two. Also, there are games played in the beach such as volleyball, frisc bee throwing, tags which you can participate for free. Just wait for the opportunity to join and be friendly.

Willy's Rock in Broad Daylight

4. In-land travels. ATV, Motorcycles, Bicycles. These are the list of priorities depending on your budget. ATVs and Motorcysles can fit two so you can split the cost when you want to tour the island like going to Mount Luho or Puka Beach. A bicycle is a good choice but be sure you have the lungs for it. Tricycle is probably the best option if you will ply their route and best shared also with other if you want to rent it. But if you really want to save, you can just walk endlessly from one place of interest to another. Just walk early and bring water.

Life Guard Tower in Station 1

5. Booze. I think you do not need a help for this one. Just grab a cheaper booze at the local market or convenience store in D'Mall or on the road side and bring it on the beach. The beach is free and the sounds coming from the party areas are also free. Party on!

Sombrero Vendor

6. Gifts, tokens, pasalubong. Of course, you want to leave Boracay with something to bring with either for yourself or for your friends. Collecting shells and stones is not advisable and getting sand is prohibited so better avoid doing these. Instead, you can buy souvenirs from ambulent stalls which offers these products at half the price. Again, use your haggling skills because more often than not, they will give you some discounts.

The Famous Leaning Coconut Trees

8. Massage. In-house massage/spa would cost you more than a thousand bucks while beach side massage with coconut oils slathered all over you will cost you around five hundred bucks. But if you ask around or talk friendy with the offerring masseuse, you can have massage at mush lesser cost, at two hundred bucks even. Remember the law of supply and demand. If there are too many masseuse roaming around, you can ask for a lower cost. But of course, the cheapest alternative still is to let your love one massage you.

Again, these are all unsolicited advise which you may follow. Feel free to add more because traveling, even to the best island in the world, need not be too expensive.

Nueva Vizcaya: Malico Pine Forest

2012-10-14T13:09:00.003+08:00

Foggy Forest

When my sister chanced upon me browsing through my Malico Pine Forest pics, she said the place looked like a scene from the Twilight series. Well, I dunno if it is just me or if there is anybody else for that matter that can't relate but I never really followed that series. I mean, although I am aware that there is a Team Bella or Team Edward, I guess I have outgrown Count Dracula or the Teenage Warewolf, so the entire Twilight thing is a little alien to me.

Finding Dong Ho

But if Malico Pine Forest could very well imbibe the eerie atmosphere of a vampire movie, then all the more, this is one great place to visit whenever you crave for that foggy feeling sans the fear of having your blood sucked.

Guard Dog

Barangay Malico is about 10 kilometers from Imugan. You need to rent a jeep from Imugan that will lead you Barangay Salacsac which is the jump-off point for the trek up Malico Pine Forest. In Salacsac, you could check out the Strawberry Fields and other vegetable crops grown in the area. Too bad, that when we got there, the strawberries have just been harvested so the field is just bleak brown.

Dried Tiger Grass

From Salacsac, it is about two kilometers trek to Malico on a dirt-path road. On a sunny day, you will have a refreshing view of the vegetable farm nearby and the Sta. Fe proper from afar.

Master Lagalog in Action

On a clearer day, you could even see glimpse of Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan below but it will only be temporary because come midday, the path to the forest will be enveloped by fogs. You will literally feel the air brushing through your skin and all you will see will be the pine trees and other woods that will eventually be enveloped by fogs.

Siopaotonic's First Time

The first time I went there was with Ferdz, Oggie and Erick where we had our lunch on the valley covered with dried pine leaves. This time, we went on the very same spot to find that nothing has really ever changed. I guess, in this part of the world, time ticks very slowly to the point of standing very still.

The Road

With the recent exposures that Malico as well as Salacsac has been getting nowadays, it will only take time before backpackers as well as weekend travelers will flock the place. Hopefully though, the clean and peaceful ambiance of the place remain. And for the visitors, just remember to keep the place clean and leave nothing but awesome memories of your travel in the place.

View from Lying Down

And by the way, I don't mind missing out on the Twilight series as long as I am traveling and going on places such as these.

Do check out other amazing places as contributed by other bloggers here.