Sunrise at Culion Church and Fortress – Palawan, Philippines

May 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
La Inmaculada Concepcion Churh in Culion

I was able to beat my alarm clock. At five in the morning, I woke up from a short and shallow slumber, opened my eyes, got up and out of the bed, and then the alarm clock went off. It was one of those rare mornings that I was able to score against it. That's how excited I was to start the day. My friend Mica decided to stay in the room and continue her journey in dreamland. After brushing my teeth as efficiently as I could, I grabbed my camera, went down the hall to the lobby, and made my way to the church to watch the sunrise that Culion is starting to be known for. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Historical Sites, Lighthouses, Palawan, Philippines, Religious Sites Tagged With: , , , , , ,

6 Simple Ways to Avoid Getting Lost

May 17, 2013 by 1 Comment
Where to go, where to go? Maybe Buddha has the answer.

What's with men and asking for directions? How many times has this question been raised by friends traveling with me, I lost count. I can't speak for all mankind but, in my case, just utter bashfulness and a dash of ego. I used to think that I was just not wired to ask for directions. When I was starting to go places years ago, I was too shy to approach strangers for anything and relied only on myself to find my way around towns and cities --- even if that meant wandering around unfamiliar blocks and dodgy alleys for hours. I thought I was always prepared anyway. But that's the thing about traveling, you can never be prepared enough. And that can't be any truer in lands ruled by a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Planning a Trip, Practical Tips Tagged With: , ,

Restaurant Review: Ketchup Food Community – Baguio City, Philippines

May 17, 2013 by 1 Comment
Canto

My bowl was brimming with hot tom kha gai but the brewing envy inside me bubbled over through my eyes as I threw wanting looks to the other bowls and plates on our table. We were a big group, celebrating the recent success of the 2nd Baguio Blog Conference, where I gave a short talk. The organizers treated the speakers to dinner at Ketchup Food Community, a foodie's haven that I had not tried before. A relatively new dining destination, Ketchup Food Community was established in March 2012. It is actually a cluster of five small restaurants, each offering a different cuisine, perfect for those who want to try a plateful of everything in one seating. Canto is a steakhouse famous for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baguio, Benguet, Food, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

8 Philippine Travel Blogs You Should Read and Follow

May 15, 2013 by 7 Comments
edgar allan zeta yap

It almost always happens. Whenever I finish giving a talk or lecture about travel blogging (and blogging in general), I am almost always asked which other travel blogs I read and recommend. Travel blogs come in various forms, shapes, and colors and each has its own purpose. Some promote destinations by providing useful information (travel guides), some showcase incredible images (photo blogs), others chronicle their memorable trips (travelogues). Like most online users, I too am a fan of other travel blogs that help me plan my next trip or inspire me to travel more and write more, or both. Here are eight of my absolute favorites in no particular order. (This list does not include blogs of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Practical Tips Tagged With: , , , ,

Lusong Shipwreck and Coral Garden – Coron, Palawan, Philippines

May 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
lusong coral garden

I can tell you a thousand reasons why I am not a diver but they all boil down to one thing --- fear. For a traveler who was born and raised in Batangas, a diving hotspot, I am unusually afraid of the dark and beautiful depths of the sea. Yes, it is the fear of deep water, of drowning, of death that has always kept me afloat, skimming only the surface of the water. For the longest time, I had been content with my snorkel and never had the thought of exchanging it for a diving gear entered my mind. Not until I got to Lusong. The sun had already set and only its faint afterglow illuminated the skies but Lusong Island continued to radiate a beauty that was both thirsty and soaked. Summer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Natural Wonders, Palawan, Philippines, Wildlife Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Restaurant Review: Cafe by the Ruins – Baguio City, Philippines

May 15, 2013 by 1 Comment
The famous strawberry shortcake

My fingers flipped the pages straight to their list of house specialties. One look and I knew I would be having my most expensive lunch in years at this restaurant. The prices were intimidating, almost threatening, and I was just used to the affordable meals of Baguio City's most reputable dining establishments. Still, after a long tug-o-war between the frugal and the piggish sides of myself, I allowed the latter to take over the decision-making. Pinikpikan, bagnet, and strawberry shortcake, please. The long wait allowed me and my friend Mica to take a look at our surroundings. Cafe by the Ruins is smack at the heart of the city but it still manages to create a forest-ish ambiance. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Baguio, Benguet, Food, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Tameta Pension House – Coron, Palawan, Philippines

May 11, 2013 by Leave a Comment
View from the fan room

If I ever wondered what it would feel like to stay inside an oven, I would have had an idea on my first day in Coron, Palawan. Summer had just started but it already felt like we were in the inner layers of hell. Mind you, Coron is infinitely beautiful but the late March heat had turned the ground into frying pans and we were but seared meat. That's why, looking back, I don't understand why I chose to stay in a fan room that day. Ah, I know --- budget. We booked a room at Tameta Pension House, a not-so-well-known inn. Thing is, it lies just opposite the popular Patrik and Tezz Guesthouse, which was fully booked that time. The owner suggested that we stay at nearby Tameta instead. It was a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , ,

Pamalican Island – Busuanga, Palawan

May 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
pamalican island busuanga

Even before coming to life, my plan of circumambulating the island died when our boatman, Harold, told us we only have 15 minutes to spend. He was worried about the weather and the time, since we were set to make one more stop before calling it a day and the sun was already threatening to retire. Still, I hopped out of the boat with a smile on my face and let my feet make shallow marks on the white bed of sand that skimmed the island. We were the only people in the island, save for the caretaker and his child, who were busy stacking sticks in one corner. Having an island all to myself is always a great feeling; I always daydream that I own a private island. Despite the boatman … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beaches and Islands, Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines Tagged With: , , ,

Chasing Sunsets at Mt. Tapyas, Coron – Palawan, Philippines

May 3, 2013 by 1 Comment
Mt. Tapyas sunset

Why do we keep chasing sunsets? Is it the sight, the picture of the sun surrendering all his glory to the restraints of the liquid horizon? Is it the warmth, the feeling of the king's last-born rays caressing our skin as he dives into the sea? Or is it the chase, those jading moments when you brave the way or beat the time just to catch his last few breaths? She sat on one of the benches that dash the trail and told me she was giving up. Mica, a friend and a fellow travel blogger, was calling it quits and we were not even halfway the climb. Under normal circumstances, I would have tried harder to convince her to go on but these were no normal circumstances. We had been awake for … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Mountains and Hills, Palawan, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , ,

Culion Museum and Archives – Palawan, Philippines

May 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The facade of Culion Museum and Archives

All four of us stood by the door of the museum, waiting for the caretaker. "If the whole island had been declared leprosy-free," I couldn't help but scratch the back of my head in confusion, "where are the former patients now?" "Most of them have gone back to the outside world," answered Kuya Toto, a local and one of our tour guides. "Some stayed." "But I don't understand," I expressed my inability to process information efficiently. "Who are living here now?" "Some just moved here from other places. Toto is from Metro Manila but he decided to work here," Jona replied with a smile. She, too, is a local, touring us around. "The others are descendants of the patients. I am a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coron, Culion, Busuanga, Man-made Marvels, Museums, Palawan, Philippines Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

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For the longest time, I felt like a part of me had been missing. Whenever I come home to my hometown, I’m appalled by how much the place has changed. Even our house is completely unrecognizable. The trees that I grew up climbing, the grass covering our backyard, they are gone. Long gone. What’s there [...]

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“Hey, look at this!” There she was, my friend Tonet, standing motionless before a gravestone; her eyes glued to the engraving. “It’s weird.” “What is?” I walked towards her. “Look.” Her finger led my eyes to two words in particular. Last seen. Usually, a gravestone has two lines written below the name of the departed [...]

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View of Macadlaw (left) and Puhunan (right) from Bel-at

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If the winter blues have got you feeling a little bit down, you might be dreaming of the trips you could take in the upcoming year. There’s only one thing standing in your way: your finances. With a bit of effort, you can make your travel plans a reality by following these simple money-making tips. [...]

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