Nomadic Experiences of 2012: From the Halifax Airport Lounge Until a Long December

Unknown December 22, 2012

The year the world is supposed to end is about to end. A year which filled my memory vault almost to a full. Something I will look back in earnest disbelief (and bragging rights) that I've experienced it all in a span of one year. In between the struggles of everyday living, I am proud to sandwich...

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[Insert Adjectives Here] at Tinago Falls | Iligan City

Unknown December 16, 2012

Tinago waterfalls, like a wonder drug, provide a soothing cure for any pounding headache. The flowing water, even from the tiniest cracks in its high-rise wall, appears to wash away all unsavory elements of the world. The cold, crystalline water creates an inviting natural pool surrounded by lush...

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Eyeballing Maria Cristina Falls | Iligan City

Unknown December 10, 2012

I've heard about Maria Cristina Falls as early when I was still focused on toys and playground noise. Chances are, my Sibika and Kultura teacher haven't been here back then. But, the way she described it while reading from the book, sounded like it was a sight to see. It was one of those moments...

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Post End of the World Travel Plans

Unknown November 25, 2012

If I were to believe the Mayan prophecy then there's no need for me to make travel plans beyond 2012. However, since I'm already penciling out destinations for 2013 - that means the hell with the world crumbling and those end of times murmurs in 2012. I expect my feet to walk over new grounds next...

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Greens and Sierra Madre as Far as the Eyes Can See | Tanay

Unknown November 23, 2012

A couple of months back, while me and Lauren was in the midst of what we call as epic moments construction phase as a couple. We always find ourselves opting to an out of town trip as opposed to hanging out on smokey bars. The most recent was our 6-day Mindanao trip, which took us to the provinces...

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No Danzig, But Us at Kalamansig | Sultan Kudarat

Unknown November 15, 2012

We arrived in Lebak after a couple of hours of ragged joyride along the scenic Upi-Lebak National Hi-way as darkness began to eat away at the remaining sunlight. We only had time to stretch our legs because as soon as we shook off our cramps, we boarded a tricycle for a six-kilometer ride to the...

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Chapter 3: The Lightness of Meeting an Old Romantic Tagbanwa Couple

Unknown November 11, 2012

Our boat threaded the stillness of the sea under gloomy skies and over calm waters to a place not frequented by tourists. Passing through tiny islands dominated by edgy limestone cliffs, which our boatman Russell points out as some of the perilous path leading to hidden lakes, where the Tagbanua...

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The Golden Mosque: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Masjid | Cotabato City

Unknown November 09, 2012

An uncomfortable sensation betrayed my enthusiastic steps out of Cotabato City airport only minutes after stepping off the plane. I've heard a lot of nasty things about this city. The sort that advises you not to go out walking alone and other hysteria propagated by the mainstream media. When Lauren...

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Film Pirates and Surfers of Dahican Beach in Mati | Davao Oriental

Unknown November 05, 2012

After a sweltering day resembling The Clash's "breaking rocks in the hot sun" and relishing the impassioned ambiance of Davao City's Kadayawan Festival. Early the next day, I joined a small group of enthusiastic film photographers Lauren, Master Erick, and Surfer Kara on a journey to Mati, the capital...

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Chapter 2: The Pre-Drench Chain Gang on a Hula-Loop of Coron | Palawan

Unknown October 16, 2012

When my alarm clock went off at 5:30 a.m., I was startled to see natural light seeping through the small opening in the window curtain. It had rained heavily the day before and all night. In my mind, I've filed the prospect of a sunny island exploration around the Calamian Islands in the cold case...

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The Kids of Gubat, Sorsogon Decides To Read

Unknown October 10, 2012

“So many books, so little time.” ― Frank Zappa In the case of the students of Rizal Elementary School in Gubat, Sorsogon. It used to be the other way around. There were no books because there wasn't a library in the first place. All that has changed now. Remember this Book Sharing Project...

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Dante Varona Unchained at San Juanico Bridge

Unknown October 07, 2012

When I was growing up in our old neighborhood in Paranaque, there was this tricycle driver who everyone referred to as "King." He has disheveled features, including a long black beard and a semi-handlebar mustache that matches his thick hair, which appeared to haven't felt the sweep of a comb...

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Chapter 1: Pre-Lumineers' Arrival in Coron | Palawan

Unknown October 01, 2012

This was my third visit to Coron, Palawan, and it was the most remarkable. If there are any, I should be writing this with my eyes closed and using only one hand, while the other makes a salami sandwich. Narrating the 'I did this, we did that, went there and ate here, stayed at Coron Eco Lodge'...

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Lake Bulusan: Where Bad Folks Don’t Go | Sorsogon

Unknown September 30, 2012

According to the Meat Puppets, bad folks end up in a lake of fire. The good folks, though end up in some scenic lake elsewhere. I have reasons to feel like we were a bunch of good folks heading to Bulusan Volcano Natural Park that day. Accompanied by the humble Mayor Ronel Lim of Gubat, Sorsogon...

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In Pursuit of the Most Wanted Waterfalls | Biliran

Unknown September 17, 2012

I stepped off my plane on the tarmac of Daniel Romualdez Airport in Tacloban City at the first sight of light. My mission was as clear as a shimmery disco ball circling to the beat of a Bee Gees song "Staying Alive." If I want to live again, I must carry out the top-secret orders bestowed upon me....

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Spyder Surge: Biking Around Marikina Semi - Gangnam Style

Unknown September 12, 2012

I always wanted to buy another bike since my last one was stolen at our then home in Pasig, by a member of the "Spiderman Club" a few years ago. (sings Queen's "Bicycle Race") One of my best friend, Don is an avid biker and I am itching to join him on one of his biking jaunt around the Metro and...

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Go Hotels Dumaguete

Unknown September 01, 2012

During my first trip to Dumaguete early this year, I stayed at a budget hostel - the kind of place a traveler would just sleep on, take a shower and that's it. That's why my second trip to Dumaguete, also of this year was like Mr. Chow and an average Joe apart. I got the chance to stay at GoHotels...

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Enchanted River: Unearthly Basin of the Deep Blue | Surigao del Sur

Unknown August 28, 2012

"♫♪♫ I belong with you, you belong with me you're my sweetheart I belong with you, you belong with me you're my sweet (Ho!) ♫♪♫" Sings the male fairy as he flaps his wings quickly, unseen by the object of his desire—a beautiful girl staring, jaw dropped in fascination at the blue colored...

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For Whom the Tinuy-an Falls | Surigao del Sur

Unknown August 24, 2012

The massive force of Tinuy-an's raging waters stunned me at first sight. It's 95 meters wide, and the sound of water falling from its 180-foot top mimics a roaring engine, as if you're standing in front of an aircraft on the runway about to run you over. The more you move slowly towards it, cutting...

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A Woodstock of Pebble Rocks in Mabua | Surigao del Sur

Unknown August 13, 2012

In the not so far outskirts of Surigao City, a throng of edgy, colliding rockers lies unusually subdued, well rested and only head bangs against each other when stepped upon. These are the pebble rockers of barangay Mabua, simply known as "Pebble Beach". The place defies the popular belief, same...

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Looting Scenery on a Day Hike to Gomot Falls | Romblon

Unknown August 05, 2012

Still reeling like a junkie who just smoked a bundle of weed from the previous night's "Bikini Open", I woke up from a dream where I found myself trapped in an island along with the eleven other bikini-clad contestants. Only to find later on that "number 3" was really an alien from outer space...

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Postcard Series: Pebble N' Rolla | Surigao

Marky Ramone Go August 01, 2012

My feet aren't planted over fine white sands, rather on smooth, round pebble rocks. West of Surigao City in the seaside town of Mabua, a different kind of beach awaits travelers used to drawing stick figures on beach shores. A friction factory of banging rocks, many of which bigger than the...

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Nomadic Video 6: Romblon

Unknown July 29, 2012

The music of the Clash's "Police on my Back" provides the necessary beat to this random video footage I shot during our trip to Romblon last May. There were no police chasing us, just us hot on the trail of new places to see and experience. From the long 10-hour sea journey,...

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Cinema Leonardo: A Silent Hill Retreat in Baguio

Unknown July 20, 2012

It was nearing midnight of a Friday and as I sat at Victory Liner's Cubao terminal, a man being chased by a cop ran beside the post near from where I was sitting. He embraced the post like his life depended on it, to avoid being cuffed by the policeman. With all the reports of summary execution...

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The Island of Dr. Cobrador | Romblon

Unknown July 16, 2012

Five-six or even seven hundred years ago when sea explorers approach a strange island, meeting a bloody resistance is a foregone conclusion. Drum rolls of war beat will accompany the sounds of shrieking bayonet and spear armed warriors running across the shore to meet the men aboard the incoming...

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Book Sharing Project in Gubat, Sorsogon

Unknown July 11, 2012

The room the kids call as their own "library" is a 40 square meter of empty space. The walls are untidy and dark, the windows are almost broken to shards. The lone table lies almost deserted by time, unused and nevermore. The only reminder that the room is the school's library was the two small...

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Judging a Bikini Open in Sibuyan Island | Romblon

Unknown July 09, 2012

I was sitting there at the judges table with a pencil and a bunch of papers in front of me. What am I doing here? I asked myself. I've never scored anyone wearing a bikini before, In my eyes, anyone who sports a bikini automatically gets a perfect 10 from me. I was worried the hometown crowd might...

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A Piece of C in El Nido, Palawan

Unknown July 08, 2012

Like a porn star working on a scene (this time with Sasha Grey) for the third day in a row. Wait, let me rephrase that. Like an experience, equaling a porn star reporting for duty at the tail-end of a three day shoot, we took another boat ride early morning of our fourth day in El Nido, still...

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Gulag-like Coldness of Mount Pulag

Unknown June 25, 2012

I woke up in the middle of the night shivering from the cold. I can see my feet covered with my gray socks, but I could not feel it, but its shaking like a live turd out of water. I ask myself what I am doing here, as thoughts of sleeping soundly on my warm bed at home buzzed my head. As the temperature...

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El Nido, Palawan: Tour B-Hop a Dope

Unknown June 19, 2012

It's already our third day in El Nido and it seems I am getting a good grasp of the place. I'm getting used to the vibe of the town. Who wouldn't be? you walk a little bit further and you'll end up in rows of bars and restaurants fronting the sea. The place itself seems like a stone encapsulated...

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2012 Globe Tatt Awards Finalist for "The Visualizer"

Unknown June 17, 2012

About a month ago, a former workmate of mine Tess Roldan asked permission if she could nominate me for the upcoming Globe Tatt Awards. Of course I said 'yes' she can, not expecting that it would produce a stunning result like it did when I opened my email a week ago. The email I got informed me...

A Slow Motion Incursion to Basey | Samar

Marky Ramone Go June 15, 2012

I woke up with runny nose and a slight chill brought upon by a night lacking in oxygen, reduced to inhaling the cold fake vapor of the air conditioner inside the small room I rented. I thought about sleeping till early afternoon, I felt weakened by a virus I caught somewhere. The urge to cross...

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El Nido, Palawan: Tour A OK

Unknown June 13, 2012

If our first day in Palawan was spent mostly being en route to El Nido from Puerto Princesa, that left us with barely enough energy to meet new people that night at "Sea Slugs" — a bar where a cover band played live Pink Floyd and Sublime songs. On the second day, I woke up energized by a...

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El Nido, Palawan: Paradise Momentarily Disturbed

Unknown June 07, 2012

On our second day in El Nido, Palawan something happened that got me thinking whether I should write it here or not. I realized that I need to take the bad ones along the good ones, knowing the ripe fruits far outweighs the rotten ones. This is one of those events you hope will never happen again,...

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El Nido, Palawan: 0-24 Hours

Unknown May 31, 2012

Our first day in Palawan can be described as a rough patch for many people in terms of traveling. Not in my case though, part of the joy of traveling are the happenings going from point A to B to C and so on. I eagerly anticipated the seven-hour bus trip from Puerto Princesa to El Nido. However,...

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Nomadic Video 5: Mount Pulag, Benguet

Unknown May 27, 2012

I used to do a lot of hiking way back during College years, when my knee joints and legs muscles are still in top notch condition. Lately, all the climbing I do are on the LRT and MRT stairs, I even curse everytime I come across a busted escalator. But that's about to change since I now have my...

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Mang Kulas Pabili nga ng Tsinelas sa Liliw | Laguna

Unknown May 24, 2012

After our crypt incursion in Nagcarlan, we proceeded to the "Tsinelas" town of Liliw, Laguna. The town's main street is lined with stores selling the preferred weapon against cockroaches and other bugs. Kidding. I'm referring to casual footwear. Shopaholics like my friend Cathy will have a...

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Notes from the Underground Cemetery in Nagcarlan, Laguna

Unknown May 21, 2012

It was raining when we woke up as the skies remained gloomy until it ceased. The night's drizzle are still evident on the dripping plants and trees around Villa Sylvia and the slippery and muddy lawn. We left Abigail's unopened Tanduay rum and Fundador to one of the caretakers as token of niceties....

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Best of Travel Photos: My 7 Super Shots

Unknown May 18, 2012

Like a virus swept by the reckless winds in all four directions of our world, this blog tagging game originated from HostelBookers has reached me through a few people whom I shared the same passion of traveling and photography. I was first tagged by the world-blogosphere famous writer of "Date...

Lake Hopping in San Pablo City | Laguna

Unknown May 14, 2012

At the crack of dawn on Saturday, Cathy and I were already at the JAC liner terminal in Buendia, Taft, waiting for our travel companion Abigail, who had been hammered from a night of drinking the night before. Despite this, Abigail arrived only a few minutes after six a.m. It was my first time...

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Nomadic Video 4: Laguna Lakers (San Pablo, Liliw, Nagcarlan)

Unknown April 29, 2012

Since I started traveling around the Philippines three or four years ago, I've been to Mindanao, Visayas and the edge of Northern Luzon, doing so I was able to overlook nearby provinces like Laguna. Because of that realization, along with a couple of cool friends, Cathy and Abigail, we set...

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