Museums, like what candy stores are for kids, are a haven for my never-ending curiosities. Whenever I travel to a new country or city, I always look forward to visiting one. Imagine my astonishment when I finally stepped foot inside a museum in a country whose ancient civilization made substantial contributions to world history, literature, writing, religion, art, architecture, science, and so on.

When one mentions the word "archaeology," one is easily reminded of Egypt. It’s no wonder the classic film Indiana Jones takes place in many cities in Egypt in pursuit of priceless antiquities. Despite the countless ancient sites and relics discovered in Egypt, it is widely believed that they only represent a meager one percent, with the remaining 99% yet to be excavated.

Fortunately, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, which was built in 1902, holds the world's biggest collection of Egyptian antiquities. Over 170,000 objects are kept under its dome roof, with a representative amount on exhibit.

The Egyptian Museum, the Middle East's oldest archaeological museum, houses the world's greatest collection of Pharaonic antiquities covering the Pre-Dynastic Period (5500 BC) to the Greco-Roman Period (364 AD).

“Like a Bun in the Oven”

“Where are you going in Egypt?” asks the border security personnel. “Saint Catherine and then Cairo”, I replied. “Oh Cairo, too hot there now. You’re like a bun in the oven”, the bearded officer tells me.

“Well, it’s the great Sinai Desert we’re heading to”, I thought to myself. I might as well embrace the extreme weather for the experience. Bun in the oven or not, my mind was firmly focused that time on climbing Mount Sinai and seeing the Great Pyramid of Giza.

After spending a couple of days in Saint Catherine we crossed the Suez Canal heading towards Cairo tiptoeing in the border of the African continent and finally, within a Google Map pin drop of the Pyramids.

But before we visited one of the world’s greatest wonders to which Napoleon famously pointed out to his troops "Forward! Remember that from these monuments yonder 40 centuries look down upon you", we set out on a bit of a city tour that included a fancy dinner aboard a boat cruising down the River Nile.

Oh, plus a visit to the Egyptian Museum.

A House that Unveils the Mysteries of Ancient Egypt

Located on the northern side of the also historic Tahrir Square, which was the setting for numerous demonstrations preceding the Arab Spring, lies the Egyptian Museum. Designed by the French architect Marcel Dourgnon, the enormous dome-shaped structure has a distinctive pinkish hue. Within, you will find the shimmering artifacts of ancient Egyptian society's nobility, including the golden funeral mask of Tutankhamun and other famous pharaohs, as well as tombs, merchandises, mummies, jewelries, cookware, and a myriad of personal effects.

Seconds from entering my gaze immediately darted from one artifact to another. Our guide tells us, “You can spend a whole day here or maybe two and still, you would not cover everything”.

He isn’t exaggerating. If someone ask for a volunteer to relive the plot of the movie “Night at the Museum”, I’d gladly raise my hand. Since we only have three to four hours tops inside, I made sure to listen to our guide and absorb as much information as I could.

As we made our way around the museum, I couldn't help but be amazed by the sheer magnitude of the collection. Imagine trying to grasp the entirety of Egypt's past—a thousand years and counting—all within arm’s reach.

Apart from the golden burial mask, I was entirely captivated by the many masterpieces housed inside the museum. Trying to recall the ones on top of my head are the ancient papyrus that contained the Book of the Dead for the Priest of Bastet and Djoser, the diminutive statue of Cheops (Khufu), the great Pyramid builder, the statues of numerous pharaohs, especially the one of Ramses, the intriguing engraved images on limestone relief, one particular display that is a sarcophagus shaped like a mummy, and, of course, the numerous mummies displayed in a glass case.

“If only we have more time”, I thought to myself as we exited the museum. As I begin to psych myself up and calm my nerves as the thought of where we’re heading next, the Great Pyramids of Giza, I took one last look at the facade of the Egyptian Museum. The building itself is an interesting fusion of Italian Renaissance, Greco-Roman elements, and 19th-century French Beaux-Arts. Muttering wishful thoughts to myself, I make a pledge of going back Egypt for a longer time, and hopefully, I become more of an Indiana Jones than an average tourist.

The last leg of our post-PHITEX’s Nature and Adventure familiarization trip took us to Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal, where we soaked ourselves in local culture and gastronomic fare and had some much-needed R&R in the great outdoors.

After four days of exploring Cagayan de Oro and parts of Bukidnon, the group is looking forward to some downtime sinking our bodies into the salty waters of Davao Gulf, the same body of water frequented by an array of species of toothed whales and dolphins.

But first, we need to pass first the largest city in the country in terms of land area, Davao City.

Take a Bow, Davao

Just when the bustling activities in Davao mirrors other big cities in the Philippines, the towering presence of Mt. Apo instantly looms and reminds visitors of the duality of Davao as an urban and countryside setting.

With only a full day to spare before we head off to Samal Island, our group made the most by making a series of stops at a few of the landmark places in the city that best typify its character, which is rich in tradition, history, heritage, flora and fauna, and arts.

We tried our hands at chocolate making at the Malagos Chocolate Museum, which is located within the Malagos Garden Resort. While we didn't get to see the entire process because the first seven processes of chocolate creation can take from a few days to a few weeks, we did get to experience first-hand the molding part, which is the eighth of a nine-step process followed by Malagos.

This is the part where you just need to pour the tempered chocolate into a molding tray with various shapes together with small amount of fillings such as walnuts, almonds, dried mango, raisins and more. Afterward for the final phase, our creations were cooled for half an hour to achieve the finished form that one can quickly bite and melt in their mouth.

We also learned that Malagos produces chocolates from single-origin cacao beans grown and harvested on their farm located on the foothills of Mt. Talomo — a dormant volcano beside Mt. Apo.

Before our visit to Malagos Museum, we had our Davao-themed buffet lunch inside the resort where we were treated to a cultural show featuring young performers from the Malagos community. The show, which combines Bagobo dance with folk dances to portray the stories of several communities and their own festivities, is a representation of the region's rich and varied cultural heritage.

After a short 10 minute drive from Malagos, we arrive at the Philippine Eagle Center. At first glance, one would wonder why such mesmerizing, winged monarchs of the sky are kept here and caged. However, after hearing from the tour guides, visitors will realize that the center's primary mission is to rehabilitate eagles of diverse types — especially survivors of poaching — before setting them back free in the wild and operate as a breeding facility to protect the critically endangered National Bird of the Philippines.

The 8.4 hectare facility located on the foothills of Mount Apo houses more than 30 Philippine Eagles, with half of them being captive bred. Seeing what famed aviator Charles Lindbergh described as "the air's noblest flier" up close, was an awesome experience.

Capping off our Davao trip is a stop at Magsaysay Park for some Durian fruit tasting and an educational lecture from our guide about the region's diverse ethnolinguistic communities.

Named in honor of former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay, the park sits on a sprawling space facing the waters of Davao Gulf. Aside from the 25 meter tri-pillar obelisk tower with the statue of President Magsaysay, the park is noted for its exquisite replicas of the dwellings of Mindanao's 11 tribes, as well as various art installations done by local artists.

Snippets of arts and other crafts are displayed on each house models symbolizing the diverse culture of the 11 ethnolinguistic communities in Mindanao namely the Sama, Tausug, Maranao, Ata, Matigsalug, Bagobo-K'lata, Bagobo-Tagabawa, Obu-Manuvu, Iranun, Kagan and Maguindanaon.

To the Bat Cave and Beaches of Samal Island

We completed our fantastic journey with a two-night stay on Samal Island, namely at the Discovery Samal Resort, which began operation just this June 2023.

This property boasts more than 150 huge rooms and suites along with three large pools running parallel in different elevations along the beach and encircled by a tangle of canopy trees, gardens, and trails leading to the property's many amenities.

While the preceding four days have been filled with stimulating activities at every turn, our party relished the opportunity to simply relax by the pool or on the beachfront of this spectacular resort, and we did exactly that upon arrival.

Since rest is for the weak and exploring is for the wanderers in our group, our Nature and Adventure activities continued the next day with a snorkeling trip to the Giant Clam Sanctuary or otherwise known as Taklobo (local word for “giant clams”) Sanctuary.

More than 3,700 giant clams, including more than 3,000 considered adult, call this 14-hectare marine protected area home. These huge clams are being kept for study and conservation efforts thanks to a partnership between Davao del Norte State College (DNSC), AdeCor United Fisherfolks Organization (ACUFOR), and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Samal.

The Sanctuary's resident tour guide gave us a fascinating briefing before we dove into the water, enlightening us about the clams and other marine species thriving in the vicinity. Our guide also stressed that individuals should refrain from touching the aquatic organisms, since they are extremely fragile and can be killed by even the slightest action of unguided curiosity.

The gigantic clams in the shallow sea shone like flowers in bloom as our group approached, with their brilliant colours shimmering from hues of blue to violet and other rainbow colors.

If giant clams hold court on the waters of Samal, inland, the bats lord over inland in large numbers at the Monfort Bat Sanctuary. This 57-acre site is home to the largest single bat colony in the world, consisting of almost 3 million Rousette fruit bats.

The Iñigo-Monfort initially bought this piece of land in the early 1900s only to discover a network of caves that were home to thousands of bats and would grow to house millions over the course of several decades. In spite of the unpleasant smell of bat drippings and the initial shock of seeing so many of them up close, the sight of them hanging upside down practically covering every inch of the cave is a surreal image that further reminds you of the strangeness and wonders of nature.

It was apparent how Mindanao’s rich culture and the nature wonders of Samal Island left a lasting impression on our foreign participants. I could sense their astonishment as they absorbed all the incredible experiences we had, from exploring Cagayan de Oro to venturing into Bukidnon. Finally, on our last night, we gathered once more on the pristine white sands of Discovery Samal, indulging in a delightful buffet dinner while being entertained by mesmerizing fire dance performers. The breathtaking starry skies that added to the enchanting ambiance of the night aptly ended our Nature and Adventure trip on a high note.

As we said our farewells the following morning, all eight foreign sellers in our group made a pledge to not only promote the places we visited, but also the entire Philippines to their clients in their respective countries.

And with that, this year’s Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX) comes to a close. See you all next year.

There’s always something about old houses transformed into bed and breakfasts or restaurants that piques my fascination. If given a choice between a post-modern establishment or a repurposed heritage home, I’ll pick the latter any day.

This is the case with Camiña Balay nga Bato in Iloilo. Literally means “house of stone”, the Camiña Balay Nga Bato, also known as Avanceña House, was originally built in 1865 in the Arevalo District along the Iloilo River by Don Fernando Avanceña as a present to his wife, Eulalia Abaja.

Father Anselmo Avanceña, the first parish priest of Molo town in Iloilo, designed the house in the 'arquitectura mestiza' architectural style, which refers to the concept of fusing indigenous Filipino elements with Spanish influences.

The home has undergone many restorations, but some of its original features, such as the capiz windows, narra floors, and kamagong wooden walls, remain intact. The original wooden posts—there are more than twenty of them—are still the primary pillars that support the house, as the owner claims.

Through the years, the house was handed down from generation to generation until Gerard Camiña and his wife, Luth Camiña (4th generation), came about to become its current owners. A marker outside the house describes it as an “important cultural property,” as declared by the National Museum in 2015.

The decision to build the house near the river was a strategic one, as back then, the Avanceña was engaged in the trade of woven cloth, specifically hablon weaving, and the river serves as an easy gateway to transport materials and finished products to adjacent towns.

I've had the wonderful fortune of having dined here on three occasions now, covering each of my recent trips to Iloilo. The home-cooked delicacies, a representative of heritage Ilonggo cuisine, made each dining experience feel more like coming home.

Aside from their specialties, the flavorful pancit molo and tsokolate batirol, which is prepared in front of you using a 'batidor' (whisk made from guava tree) to beat the tablea mixture in a heated cast iron jug, you can enjoy a feast with your family and friends with their day’s buffet menu served in the house's airy casual dining room, or what was called back in the day as 'balcon comedor'.

On my last visit to Camiña Balay Nga Bato, the buffet menu consisted of ratotoy (an Ilonggo version of ratatouille), fresh spring roll lumpia, empanada, minatamis na saging, pork binuog with hot spicy dip, chicken inasal, grilled and fried garlic bangus, embotido de arevalo, adobo rice, papaya pickles, pancit miki bisayas, mixed seafood, and of course, pancit molo and tsokolate de batirol.

As this most recent Iloilo trip of mine winds down to this last day, the finale of DOT’s Philippine Experience Tour of Iloilo and Bacolod, we made the most of our hearty lunch by capping it off with great conversations and a song number from DOT Region 6 Regional Director Krisma Rodriguez, who belted a few Disney songs before us participants made our way to Iloilo airport.

What better way to bookend another memorable trip to Iloilo than having a fine meal at the Camiña Balay Nga Bato. Like a returning son, I look forward to coming back to this heritage house that feels like the ancestral house in the province that I never had.

There’s only one option when going to Bukidnon from Cagayan de Oro, and that is the scenic route. Knowing about this from earlier visits to the province, I tried my hardest staying awake throughout our ride. As soon as I saw the mountain ranges leading to the summit of Mount Kitanglad, I knew we were close to breathing the cool air and smelling the fragrant pine trees and the rest of the verdant Bukidnon forest.

Fresh off a couple of water adventures in Cagayan de Oro, we are now ready to embark on a thrilling experience at Dahilayan Adventure Park in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon. Here, we will encounter not just one, but two exhilarating activities that will put either our fear or love of the heights to test.

Feeling the Rush of Gravity at Dahilayan Adventure Park

Mere minutes after arriving at the picturesque park, we quickly got ourselves each a cup of coffee to acclimatize at the cool weather and relish the breathtaking scenery. As I was starting to feel comfortable just chilling and sipping my hot coffee, our guide summoned us to prepare for our first activity.

“What’s the first thing we’ll try?” asked someone from our group. “We’re going to take turns at the Dropzone”, our guide Milo informs us.

Just the mere mention of the word is enough to make you contemplate about bailing out. Our group however, made a pledge that no one will skip it so off we went to the site by following a trail for a 10-minute stroll.

The Dropzone as the name suggests, involves strapping a person into a tangled of harnesses in a Superman pose and raised up on a towering pendulum swing installation 120 feet high. With a slow pull of a string by the rider dangling on the left side, it will trigger a freefall dropping the rider tantalizingly close to the water of a manmade lake below.

Julie, who is one of the three Malaysians in our group, was the first person to volunteer. As we anxiously observed, Julie was carefully secured into the harness and raised into the air. The atmosphere was filled with suspense as the Dropzone staff initiated the countdown, screaming "3, 2, 1, pull!" Without hesitation, Julie, displaying her bravery, swiftly pulled the string that initiated her adrenaline-charged freefall.

As she quickly descended, her screams echoed throughout the park. After swinging back and forth in the air, her yells transformed into expressions of delight. This gave each of us courage, confirming that the Dropzone is indeed both a thrilling and gripping activity.

I was the next to be strapped and lifted in the air. As I stare down at the waters below and listened to the countdown, a surge of electricity coursed through my body. Without hesitation, I instinctively pulled the string, and I descended into the rewarding embrace of gravity, feeling the powerful rush of wind against my face. It really feel like becoming Superman for a minute tops.

After the Dropzone, the 840-meter zipline that zooms past a canopy of giant trees at 60 kilometer per hour capped off our Dahilayan adventure.

Giant Kaamulan Headdress

We detoured to this unusual place in the municipality of Impasug-ong to see the giant statues of ladies donning a distinctive headdress before continuing on to our next destination.

It turns out that these are the work of Mindanao-born artist Kublai Millan, whose signature giant sculptures have made him famous around the world. These include the Kampilan in Sultan Kudarat, the Risen Christ in Tagum City, the Lantapan Monument also in Bukidnon and the giant Durian at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City, just to name a few.

These statues in Impasug-ong are called the Kaamulan Headdress, named after Binukid word "amul" which means to gather. Kaamulan is also the name of the ethnic cultural festival held in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon as a way to gather and celebrate the culture and tradition of the seven ethnic groups in the province namely: Bukidnon, Manobo, Umayamnon, Tigwahanon, Higaonon, Talaandig and the Matigsalug.

Marveling at the Woven Creations of the Tagolwanen Women

We also had the opportunity of visiting the Tagolwanen Women Weavers Association (TWWA) showroom located in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

The group behind this social enterprise currently consists of over 80 weavers from the Bukidnon-Tagolwanen tribe. The weavers primarily utilize sodsod grass, which is native to the wetlands of the Bukidnon highlands, to create exquisite mats and other household items. These creations are adorned with vibrant colours and intricate patterns, resulting in stunning pieces of artwork.

Make sure to visit this particular place along Sayre Highway in Malaybalay. Every purchase you make here not only allows you to bring a piece of the Tagolwanen People's culture into your home, but also contributes to the education of Tagolwanen children. Additionally, your support will inspire more Tagolwanen kids to get involved in the art of mat making.

Strawberry Fields Forever

After our two-day trip exploration of some parts of Bukidnon, we concluded our journey to the province by visiting the beautiful Taglucop Strawberry Hills. This cold weather haven is located in the highlands of Kitaotao, Bukidnon. As the day's remaining light faded and the foggy evening settled in, we arrived just in time to be greeted with a comforting glass of Strawberry Ice Wine and a grazing platter of freshly picked fruits and cheese.

Before long, a delightful dinner was served, featuring a wide array of organic dishes, many of which were sourced directly from the farm on the property. We had the opportunity to enjoy more wine and engage in a conversation with the owners, during which we learned about the fascinating origin of Taglucop Strawberry Farm.

An elevated glamping site because it not only features spacious geodesic dome tents perched on uneven hilltop terrain enveloped by towering pine trees, most also comes with a private outdoor jacuzzi and a patio perfect for morning coffee or stargazing.

In 2016, the property was purchased by the current owners, Ferdinand, and Jenny Taglucop, who initially had no specific plans for the land. After planting hundreds of pine trees, the pair became interested in cultivating a variety of berries, including strawberries, mulberries, and blackberries.

Soon the couple who also operates a travel company, would source different varieties of strawberries in their travel and learn the process of winemaking as well. During the pandemic they expanded their vineyard, created their own line of wine, and came up with an all-natural menu to feed their guests.

Breathing fog, I returned to my geodesic tent and crashed into a relaxing sleep until waking up just before sunrise and coming out of my tent to a sea of clouds. A few minutes later, we proceeded to our morning activity; an ATV ride to a higher hill top and a hike to a nearby waterfalls. Just before we bid goodbye, we promised the owners to come back for a longer stay next time.

And definitely, I would be. The cold temperature and the warm comforts of Taglucop Strawberry Farm seems to be a perfect combination for a writer like me to tap into my creative energy. “I could finish a film screenplay here”, I thought to myself.

We then head out to Davao City.