Every year, Cotabato City honors the life of the man credited with bringing Islam to Mindanao with a week-long festival. Shariff Kabunsuan, after whom the celebration is named, was an Arab-Malay from Johore, Malaysia who led an expedition to the islands of Lanao and Maguindanao in the early sixteenth century to preach Islam.
Every time I visit Clark Freeport Zone, I always wish I could stay for a few days to thoroughly enjoy the area. Aside from the numerous dining and café options, it is always a good idea to wake up and enjoy a quick run along the neighborhood's spacious pedestrian and bike lanes, hang out at the various parks, or simply chill at one of the many fancy hotels located within the Freeport Zone.
Incredibly surreal, I thought to myself as we glided over the choppy waters off the Bicol Peninsula towards the island of Ticao. My excitement at finally making it to Masbate—the seventy-seventh province I've visited in the Philippines—was palpable as our boat inched closer to the isle's powdery shores.
Every time a road trip plan is pitched, I always suggest heading to Zambales. What’s there not to like? Although it takes up to three to five hours to get there, the drive is done over smooth roads laden with bucolic scenery. Once you reach the first town of the province, you begin to smell the scent of the ocean. Driving through a series of quaint towns, you get to choose from a smorgasbord of charming seaside escapes.
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, the architect of the Taj Mahal), Jahangir Mahal is considered one of the best representations of classic Indo-Islamic architecture. Marvelous sculptures, hanging balconies, delicate trelliswork, chhatris, and topped domes are all examples of the building's exceptional architectural brilliance.
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 Kuala Lumpur to reacquaint myself with old haunts and explore new things about this bustling metropolis of cuisine and culture.
Swissôtel Clark just added another compelling reason to visit their vitality-inspired property with the launch of their first-ever Verona Brunch Club (VBC)—a dining concept designed to redefine how you experience Sunday mid-day dining in Central Luzon.
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.
The Museo ning Angeles, which is well-preserved and ideally located in front of the Holy Rosary Church and a few steps away from Pamintuan Mansion, was initially built in 1922 as the Municipio del Pueblo, or the Town Hall of Angeles City. Earlier than that, the site was the location of a casa tribunal (courthouse) during the Spanish rule that burned down in 1860. Today, after the town hall was moved to its current location, it serves as a museum showcasing historical artifacts, artwork, and relics from the city and the province of Pampanga.
The history of World War II was like this wild story that just seeped into the very consciousness of my childhood. Ever since I stumbled upon my late father’s encyclopedia set back in first grade, I had been captivated by the pages that delved into the timeline bridging World War I and World War II.
The earliest I could recall hearing about Pearl Farm dated back to the 1990s. It was during this time when most Filipinos who could afford to travel often chalked up resorts and hotels as main destinations: Dakak in Dapitan, Punta Baluarte in Batangas, Pearl Farm in Davao, and Puerto Azul in Cavite, just to name a few.
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 was envisioned to focus on ordinary people who have managed to create a ripple of positivity that extended beyond their communities.
After two years of online celebrations devoid of face-to-face revelry due to the pandemic, the Kadayawan Festival returned to a resounding drumming rhythm and a colorful street dance parade with a bang. In a fitting sense, this year's edition welcomed back the whole city of Davao and its residents to normalcy. I had the privilege of joining other travel writers and Cebu Pacific Air in witnessing the revival of the city's annual festival, which has been known as the "Kadayawan Festival" since 1988.
My curiosity about this large patch of greens fronting Manila Bay was always piqued every time I saw it from a window of a plane whenever I flew into or out of the city. It stood out as an oddity in a cityscape chock-full of concrete.
When citing gentrification success stories, the neighborhood of Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur always came to mind. Even though it had a history that walked a fine line between exhilarating and dark, the once-infamous red-light district had seen a tremendous transformation in recent years.
Entering a non-descript building atypical of the ones where popular restaurants were usually located puzzled us a bit as to where we were heading. It was only when the elevator door opened that it finally revealed our purpose, as a wide entrance leading to a buffet table greeted us.
Artworks have been a popular means of narrative since time immemorial, as exemplified by the art of Ancient Egypt. One such excellent illustration of storytelling through art can be found inside Pampanga's Saint James the Apostle Parish Church.
Years after its 1991 eruption, the wrath of Mount Pinatubo continued to be felt. A case in point was the San Guillermo Parish Church in Bacolor, Pampanga. On September 3, 1995, after days of torrential rains, a raging lahar flow from the slopes of the previously thought dormant volcano buried the town about six meters deep.
There had been a few points in our history where it might be said that the Philippines couldn’t seem to catch a break. One such event occurred on March 17, 1957, when a plane carrying President Ramon Magsaysay crashed on Mount Manunggal in Cebu, ending a promising term in which Magsaysay became popular because of his accessibility to the common people. Magsaysay, who was known as "My Guy" because he was everyone's buddy, was widely regarded as the best head of state the Philippines had ever seen. However, as luck would have it, he passed away in office and in life far too soon, leaving behind a legacy of greatness we could only hope could be replicated by current and future leaders.
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 surfboards behind, the name Baler had become synonymous with surfing. While Colonel Kilgore in the film referred to the Viet Cong as "Charlie" who "don't surf," in real-life Baler, everybody surfed.
The Spaniards had hoped that Jose Rizal's banishment to Dapitan, a sleepy town in Zamboanga del Norte that faced the Sulu Sea, would finally break his spirit, since it was so far removed from the cities where he had lived and thrived with fellow La Liga Filipina members. Our national hero, on the other hand, had other plans. Rather than accepting defeat, Rizal made his presence in Dapitan felt deeply by members of the local community.
Stepping out of my accommodation, Zostel Hostel, into a crisp 16°C Delhi morning, I was eager to witness some bustling street activity. Little did I know, "bustling" would be a major understatement for what I was about to experience. I should have braced myself, because my destination—Chandni Chowk Market—was not just one of the oldest, but also the absolute busiest market in a city known as one of the most crowded in the world.
The recent maiden Philippine Airlines flights to Tawi-Tawi from Cotabato City paved the way for me to explore the country’s southernmost province once again. I remembered when I first went here, I had met a slew of curious queries about safety when traveling to Tawi-Tawi. As many remembered, this province once hogged the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” As a metaphor, it implies using the ideas of thinkers who came before us to advance our own intellectual progress. Nevertheless, when I found myself exploring Islas de Gigantes for the second time and had the opportunity to stand on its slopes and take in more of its magnificent scenery, I was reminded of the phrase—this time, simply to immerse myself further in its beauty. Coming back to Carles, Iloilo, as part of a media familiarization trip organized by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB), had me feeling excited to the hilt at the prospect of once again standing on the shoulders of the Gigantes Islands.
Whenever one thought of Sorsogon, the gentle giant whale sharks of Donsol first came to mind. However, upon further exploration, one would learn that the province offered a plethora of delights that included beautiful beaches, heritage towns, and other natural gems comprising waterfalls, quaint lakes, firefly-laden rivers, and sleepy volcanoes. From the rich flora and fauna, colorful culture and traditions, and platefuls of delicious local cuisine to everything that ticked every intrepid traveler's checklist, it was no wonder each time a visitor departed Sorsogon, heaps of memorable experiences were left behind.
“So near, yet so far,” I thought to myself as I stared at the island known as Potipot from where I was standing at Isla Vista Beach Resort. “It is still closed to visitors,” the manager told me. Ever since the world re-emerged from the clamps of the pandemic, resort owners in Candelaria, Zambales, had been clamoring for the reopening of Potipot.
Despite an increasing number of hip Airbnbs and trendy boutique hotels rising up in Tagaytay, one hotel still remained one of my favorites. The historic Taal Vista Hotel, a hospitality institution where some of the country’s who’s who of yesteryears had stayed before, was where I loved finding myself whenever given a chance to spend a few nights in this cool-weather town.
As a travel writer, I was fortunate to be able to break free from the clamps of the pandemic earlier than most people. I do remember my first trip since the lockdown, after six months following the government’s “stay at home” order, when I almost leapt for joy at finally smelling the fresh scent of nature. Unfortunately, many of us were still reeling from the global pandemic and had shelved our travel plans on the side for the longest time.
I’m sure you have read many “Where to Stay” listicle articles where the author just picked up random accommodation properties and presented them without experiencing what it was like staying there. I know, I had done such things writing for other websites. However, in this article, I will highlight actual properties where I spent at least a few days. I had been to Boracay only four times in the past, with that year’s trip being the longest at almost two weeks. But in those journeys to Boracay, I hopped from one place to another ranging from budget options to medium-range and luxury. However, I had yet to reach Shangri-La levels.
The mood that pervaded this hidden getaway was probably similar to what the Gods of Travel would have recommended to you after a day of diving and island hopping around the magical seas of Ticao Island. Slipped inside a cove in the town of San Jacinto and dotted with tall coconut trees, Ticao Island Resort dished a laid-back atmosphere that was serene and full of Zen, just as a tropical island should be. Away from the crowds and almost free from any network signal, one could easily embrace the sense of isolation that existed on this part of the island.
It made perfect sense that museums were housed in repurposed historic structures, as there was no better way of narrating the significance of the past than inside a building whose four walls hid heaps of stories to be told.
The triangular-shaped island of Panay had gifted me with countless memorable travel experiences. Covering four provinces: Iloilo, Capiz, Aklan, and Antique, it had taken up a large chunk of space in my memory vault. Despite that, I remained keen on the idea of returning to the island, and when the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines invited me to join a media tour, I immediately said "Yes."
Hitting the ground running within moments of our arrival at Bicol International Airport, we headed to the picturesque Sumlang Lake where a filling grub was made more memorable by the beautiful backdrop of Mayon Volcano. A demonstration of preparing the native cuisine Pinangat and the process of stripping and weaving abaca, followed by a scenic bamboo raft ride rounded off our stay before departing for the town of Bacacay shortly before sunset.
In the decade that passed since I first explored the seven lakes of San Pablo City in Laguna, my wanderlust expanded beyond the Philippines and to several countries in Asia. I considered my initial journey to the city of lakes as one of those earliest moments on the road that had led me to choose a life of traveling.
Just when the bustling activities in Davao mirrored other big cities in the Philippines, the towering presence of Mount Apo instantly loomed and reminded visitors of the duality of Davao as an urban and countryside setting.
I had passed through Dagupan several times previously, typically for quick pit stops at random cafes. A weekend with friends last summer allowed me the opportunity to stay overnight and explore more about the city's nature spots, old churches, and, of course, its culinary delights.
More than a decade had passed since I first journeyed to Palaui Island. Back in those days, I was still in my earliest phase of exploring the Philippines. Cagayan Province, being in the farthest northeastern part of Luzon, seemed like a foreign country to me then. Locating it on the map, a couple of female friends and I set out on a trip that would leave a beautiful set of memories in my memory vault. After a fifteen-hour bus ride to Sta. Ana, Cagayan, followed by a three-hour van ride, a half-hour boat ride, and finally, a three-hour trek, we pitched our tent at the foot of a hill where the historic Cape Engaño Lighthouse stood.
Just as tiny rays of sunlight trailed the sky and the fainter stars began to fade in dawn light, we arrived at the coastal community of Brgy. Diora-Zinungan in Sta. Ana, Cagayan. The method behind our madness of waking up early was to time our visit when beltfish, locally referred to as "espada" or "bulung unas", hunted for food in schools within the deep waters of the Philippine Sea.
As someone who grew up in the nineteen eighties, I had my experiences of sleeping on a banig (a traditional handwoven mat in the Philippines) especially during naptime after school or when we would visit and spend a night at my grandmother’s old house in Bulacan. Dozing off on one wasn't the most comfortable, but with a soft pillow and a burst of fresh air coming from the open windows, you’d be eventually lulled into a relaxed sleep.
After ten days on the island, I began to notice that my routine was becoming monotonous. I usually started by getting some breakfast and then having a cup of coffee at a beachfront café. The rest of the day was spent working until lunch, finding a cheap place to eat, working again, and finishing the day by watching the magnificent Boracay sunset—with occasional dips in the sea thrown in for good measure.
If it were not for the state of the world grappling with a new COVID-19 variant unfolding during my latest return trip to Kayangan Lake, I would have said, “Third time’s a charm, indeed,” as I again took a dip in its crystal-clear waters. It felt like it was only yesterday—actually, the year 2009—when I first caught sight of this magical lake. I can still vividly recall my then-girlfriend, Marianne, and me wearing oversized life vests, pulling each other into the middle of the lake.
If you had booked your flight tickets to Siargao this year, the first question that probably popped into your head was, “What shouldn’t I miss in Siargao?”
As part of our Habi (weaving), Hilom (wellness), and Halal (cuisine) discovery tour of Panay Island organized by the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines, we visited a small community in the province of Iloilo where, more than a century ago, a thriving weaving industry once existed and became forgotten but was then seeing signs of resurgence.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic restricted me from receiving my usual double dose of Vitamin D and Sea, it made my trip to Malamawi Beach twofold memorable—not to mention visiting the province of Basilan for the first time. As part of the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines’ Influencers Program aimed at promoting destinations across the country to restart an industry hit hard by the pandemic, I joined other travel writers, bloggers, and vloggers on a trip to the Zamboanga Peninsula. After spending a night in Zamboanga City, we boarded a ferry for a two-hour sea journey to Basilan. Among the places we visited upon arriving was Malamawi Beach.
Despite leaving Iloilo City early in the morning, we arrived at our next accommodation by nightfall already. While travel time was supposed to take only three to four hours, we stopped by several interesting places, namely the hablon weaving town of Salngan, the Ati community-run Balay Kape Nagpana, and the Silagon Mangrove Eco-park in Ajuy. Not complaining but already feeling exhausted, I planned on getting a quick shower and a power nap before having dinner.
A few days after typhoon Odette got us holed up in our hotel in Coron, we finally saw blue skies and the green light from the Philippine Coast Guard to set out on a sea voyage to Culion Island. Returning to the island formerly known as the “Leper Colony” had me revisiting memories of dread when I first found out about its history from a prior visit almost a decade ago.
After departing Carles, Iloilo just after sunrise, we rolled into Capiz, a province known for its abundance of seafood, an hour before lunch. Since we spent a lot of time learning about local traditions at Capiz Ecology Park and Cultural Village, we reached our next accommodation in the middle of the evening already.
Formerly the Amigo Terrace, a homegrown hotel located within the heritage district of Iloilo, the rebranded Citadines Amigo Hotel now boasted a beautiful fusion of nineteen-eighties architecture and post-modern interior styles. The blending of the old and new flairs commanded a double dose of retaining its already familiar homey ambiance among Ilonggos and the addition of appealing aesthetics to the city’s visitors.
One
of the common questions we hear is, "What gear will help me survive in the
wilderness?" The truth is that thousands of people head into the woods
every year and go hiking or camping without really considering the risks
involved.
Fun
fact… 158 people die each year in Yosemite due to getting lost in the
wilderness.
As a non-smoker, I'm still concerned to ask smokers, are you struggling to find a place to smoke during your travels?
Airports
are NOT smoker friendly. Most people don't realize this, but if you aren't
prepared you can easily find yourself stuck for several hours without a place
to smoke.
