Socially distance yourself from the hustle and bustle of Manila by taking a three-hour drive to this part of Nueva Ecija, where one could wake up to a sea of clouds and the humming of birds. Nestled on the slopes of the Sierra Madre mountains and overlooking the calm waters of Pantabangan Lake were a set of cabins that gorgeously blended with the surrounding nature.

Looking for where to eat in Zamboanga City? One restaurant had become almost synonymous with the city's culinary identity: Alavar Seafood Restaurant. Best known for its legendary Curacha con Salsa Alavar, the restaurant had been welcoming travelers for decades and remained one of the first stops for food lovers visiting Zamboanga.

“Naka hain na ang pagkain sa hapag kainan”. Most of us eighties kids would attest that these words were enough to get us running into the dining room from playing games on the street. "Hapag Kainan" was the Tagalog word for "dining table," which was probably the most significant fixture in a Filipino household. It was the place where family members came together to talk about the day's events while enjoying a delicious homecooked meal.

Mountain bikers and motorcyclists alike were flocking to the rugged hills of Colosboa in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. This was because of the terrain's snaking dirt tracks that would delight any two-wheeled rider, as well as the beautiful countryside scenery. However, as the host of a TV shopping show would say, "but wait, there's more." Because Colosboa Hills was also home to a bike and souvenir shop, a rustic bar called Hill's View, and a foodie hangout place called Tambayan ni Berto.

A few days removed from being graced by the presence of National Living Treasure awardee Apuh Ambalang—a Yakan master weaver who unfortunately passed away at age seventy-eight in February 2022—in Lamitan, Basilan, we continued our discovery of the 'Habi' (weaving) culture of the Zamboanga Peninsula by making an educational stop at the Yakan Village in Zamboanga. Despite the fact that this was my second visit to this Yakan cultural hub, I was immediately captivated by the vibrant woven creations displayed in the rows of stalls that greeted us after we alighted from our vans.