Incredibly surreal, I think to myself as we glide over the choppy waters off Bicol Peninsula towards the island of Ticao. My excitement at finally making it to Masbate, the 77th province I've visited in the Philippines, was palpable as our boat inched closer to the isle's powdery shores.

Catandayagan Falls. All drone photos by Milet Miranda of Project Gora

Built between 1605 and 1626 upon the command of Vir Singh Deo to commemorate Mughal Emperor Jahangir's first visit to Orchha (father of Shah Jahan- architect of Taj Mahal), Jahangir Mahal is considered as one of the best representations of classic Indo-Islamic Architecture. Marvelous sculptures, hanging balconies, delicate trellis and chhatris, topped domes, etc., are all examples of the building's exceptional architectural brilliance.

The many domes of the palace arrest your attention

Kuala Lumpur holds a particular place in my memory. My very first air voyage was to this city more than a decade ago, just when low-cost carriers like Cebu Pacific Air began to offer fares that regular Juans like me could afford. In retrospect, my trip to Malaysia's capital city sparked my wanderlust. Hundreds of travels later, I was delighted to return to KL to reacquaint with old haunts and explore new things about this bustling metropolis of cuisine and culture.

The rainbow-ish steps of Batu Caves

Swissôtel Clark just added another reason to visit their vitality-inspired property with the launching of their first ever Verona Brunch Club (VBC), a dining concept aimed at changing how you enjoy brunch forever.

The fine exterior of Swissôtel Clark

Entering Quest Plus Clark's Mimosa Plus Golf Clubhouse, my attention was immediately drawn to  the brilliant sheen of the morning sun kissing the greens of the golf course. I sensed a lovely day ahead as I smelled the aroma of coffee and fresh pastries.

Photo Credit: Baker J Cafe

The earliest I can recall of hearing about Pearl Farm dates back in the 1990s. It was during this time when most Filipinos who can afford to travel often chalks up resorts and hotels as main destinations. Dakak in Dapitan, Punta Baluarte in Batangas, Pearl Farm in Davao, Puerto Azul in Cavite, just to name a few. 

Pearl Farm's Parola Wharf has become its icon through the years

NLEX Corporation recently launched a "Humans of the North" mini-documentary series that lends vibrancy to destinations in Northern Luzon by adding a dose of human touch. The series is envisioned to focus on ordinary people who have managed to create a ripple of positivity that extended beyond their communities.

My curiosity about this large patch of greens fronting Manila Bay is always piqued every time I see it from a window of a plane whenever I fly into or out of the city. It stands out as an oddity in a cityscape chockfull of concrete.

Some of the cleanup volunteers poses for a group photo

We all know that spending our money properly is difficult to sustain. Good for us however, there are wise strategies that we can apply to live a debt-free life and least affected by inflation, as we also replenishing our piggy banks. As we rack up hours in our daily working lives, we should be starting to prepare for our retirement life. Another great news, we don’t have to wait to reach the golden years to enjoy our fruits of labor. This early, if we manage our finances properly, we can begin living the life we always wanted. Who doesn’t  want to hang up that work uniform or boots early to have more time doing the things we enjoy, such as traveling the world?

Take a leap to Financial Freedom

Many decades after the painstaking filming of "Apocalypse Now" gave rise to the country's perhaps first surfing destination when the film crew left their surf boards behind, the name Baler has become associated with surfing. While Colonel Kilgore in the film referred to the Viet Congs as "Charlie(s) (who) don't surf," in real-life Baler, everybody surfs.

Sunny skies greeted us upon arrival in Baler's long beach