Lusong Shipwreck and Coral Garden – Coron, Palawan, Philippines

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...]

Pamalican Island – Busuanga, Palawan

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...]

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

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...]

Paoay Sand Dunes: Getting Down and Sandy in Ilocos Norte, Philippines

The sunset afterglow.

"We're losing it!" I shouted in a mixture of excitement and panic as the 4x4 jeepney we were riding stirred dust across the vast arid land. The big ball of fire is slowly dipping in the horizon and the sea pine trees --- which under normal circumstances I would find delightful --- were blocking the view. We're losing it,  I whispered again, this time in a tone that was coming from a place between sadness and frustration. We just lost the sunset. But there was no time to be unhappy. The vehicle accelerated under the twilight skies, illuminated by the afterglow of the sunset that we just missed. The weak sunlight hurdling the horizon became our guide and there we were in the middle of … [Read more...]

Calauit Safari Park: A Piece of Africa in Busuanga – Palawan, Philippines

Miller and Terrence.

That scene alone sums up the park. Three zebras escaping the scorching sun took shelter in a garage and there they stayed beside a rusty, old Pinoy jeepney. It was an intriguing sight, a harbinger of how I would see the place after spending half a day in it. The land rover we were riding stirred dust across a vast plain where giraffes roamed gracefully, hopping from tree to tree. Zebras bent their necks as they grazed, pulling the grass off the more moist corners of the island. Africa, I mumbled as our vehicle slowed down to halt. A far cry, maybe, but for now this was the closest I could get to an African safari --- Calauit Safari Park. … [Read more...]

Black Island (Malajon Island) – Busuanga, Palawan, Philippines

The main beach of Black Island (Malajon Island)

Upon contact with light, the walls of the cave sparkled as if covered with a girl's bestfriend. He threw the light on the other corners and they, too, shimmered like diamonds stashed away in the dark. “There are many caves and chambers like this under this mountain,” he said proudly to an overly excited audience --- we, his audience. “But they’re inaccessible today,” he added. And the audience let out a long sigh. Harold, our boatman and tour guide, led us out of the second cave we visited that day. The caves are probably long and deep but we were only allowed at the mouth, leaving us wanting, drooling for more. Still, we were not disappointed. Its depths may be elusive for … [Read more...]

The Budget Travel Guide to Culion, Palawan: To the ‘Island of No Return’ and Back

View from Aguila: The Culion Church and the coastal town

May 27, 1906. They were called Polillo and Mindanao. These two ships rippled across the water to bring 370 passengers from Cebu to their new home. But they were no ordinary ships carrying no ordinary passengers. Aboard these Coast Guard cutters were the future inhabitants, most of whom were forced to abandon everything they had known and loved for an island where they would face a life uncertain and isolated. This place, famed for being a paradise brimming with natural beauty, offered a fresh start but the vessels bound for it still overflowed with fear and trepidation. Their destination: The Island of No Return --- Culion. … [Read more...]

Matabungkay Beach: Littered Memories – Batangas, Philippines

I envy this kid!!!

A worldful of grays are scattered along the shore of Matabungkay. It is strewn with ashen sand that sparkles a white glow when hugged by sunlight. It is bordered landward by a long, cramped lane of resorts and stores. Many times, it is littered with trash that unabashed locals and tourists left behind. And lying on the berm, almost safe from the swashes of the struggling tides, are memories --- neither fresh nor stale --- that I always come back for. … [Read more...]

The Budget Travel Guide to Biri Island – Northern Samar, Philippines

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

Biri Island is where the gods go to wage war. This is where the San Bernardino Strait combats the mighty Pacific as the latter pushes its tides into the Visayan domain. The elements, who bear witness to the ferocious duel, are caught trapped in the battlefield. The winds sometimes cheer, sometimes howl as they watch from above. The waves, in their desperate attempt to flee, lap up the edges of the shore. And the land, Biri Island, referees the constant clash but not without finding a silver lining, getting a hold of it, and never letting go. As it takes the beating from the seas, who just pound its hard face with one blow after another, it allows the gods' skilled hands to shape its cliffs. … [Read more...]

Laoang Island: A Motorcycle Tour – Northern Samar, Philippines

Onay Beach (literally means Suicide Beach) in Laoang Island, Northern Samar

“There’s only one jeepney in the whole of Laoang Island,” shared Putot, one of our new friends. Celerino, nicknamed Putot, seldom spoke. If I’m not mistaken, it was probably the third time that I heard his voice in the two days that he accompanied us as we explored Laoang, Northern Samar. We were at a cottage along Onay Beach with two other locals Rocca and Mark. “You’re kidding,” I uttered. It was one of the rare times that he said a word yet he chose to say something as unbelievable as that. “I’m not,” Putot said. “He’s not,” confirmed Mark. Later, we would ask a couple of local government workers to verify. As it turned out, there really was just one … [Read more...]

Close
Get travel tips and ideas straight to your social media accounts! Follow me!


Twitter

Facebook

Google+