Argao, a charming coastal town surrounded by the endlessly choppy yet turquoise waters of Cebu Strait, might not be on the radar for many travelers journeying to the southern reaches of Cebu. Upon a deeper exploration however, and a few days immersed in the local scene, one will surely uncover a treasure trove of insights, especially after combing the municipality's trio of cherished traditions that all start with the letter "T": Tela (hablon cloth), torta (sponge cake), and tsokolate.

Long before the movie "That Thing Called Tadhana" influenced many from the younger generation to see Baguio City as a destination for broken-hearted people, the City of Pines has attracted a diverse range of individuals from various backgrounds for a multitude of purposes. For artists, the cool atmosphere of this mountaintop town fostered creativity, leading to a flourishing artist community over the years, which resulted in the creation of the Baguio Arts Guild, a prominent organization of artists founded by National Artists Kidlat Tahimik and Benedicto Cabrera aka BenCab, along with the late Santi Bose in 1987.

Pardon me for initially thinking when I first heard the phrase “Slow Food” that it was the Ayurvedic way of consuming food literally in a slow and calm manner. I have heard the term "Slow Food" numerous times since I first encountered it. While it shares similarities with the Ayurvedic approach, emphasizing a healthier approach to food consumption that maximizes the benefits of natural ingredients, it also means something else, a movement where at its heart, is the advancement of local foods, traditional gastronomy and organic food production.

Witnessing the raw beauty of the Dinagat Islands left me completely in awe, despite being at odds with how I would perceive the backwardness of the province in terms of infrastructures. As a potential eco-tourism destination, its rugged and bare surroundings can be a boon, but they could also be a bane, as other provinces have simply left it behind in terms of development. This leaves the province in an ideal situation as it has the opportunity to opt for a development suited for sustainable tourism, which will put more emphasis on taking care of the province’s natural gifts.

Third time's a definite charm. Having visited Gigantes a couple of times before, I've come to the delightful conclusion that its lure never fades. The islands scattered here boast crystalline waters and powdery white sands, making them a perfect backdrop for enjoying a delightful lunch featuring an array of fresh seafood, including the popular scallops and wasay-wasay shells.

As the year 2024 arrived, there were still a few Philippine provinces I’ve yet to visit: Apayao, Sulu, and Dinagat Islands. Out of the three, the latter is the one I knew the least about. Ever since it gained independence from Surigao del Norte and established itself as a separate province in 2006, information about this island province has been scarce. However, there was one particular parricide case that captivated the nation and also the one that first caught my attention about the island in the early 2000s.

Aboard a van running at moderate speed, we reached the municipality of Estancia, the ideal jump-off point for Sicogon Island, an hour after leaving Roxas City Airport. As we waited for our speedboat at the port, I ventured into the fish market and marveled at the vast array of dried seafood being sold across numerous stalls. Our guide Melanie Ortega informed me that Estancia is renowned as the hub of commercial fishing in the country, drawing comparisons to Alaska in the early 1900s due to the extensive fishing activities in the area brought about by the large presence of marine life in the waters of Visayas Sea.

Cutting through the mountains and hillsides of Samar from east to west, the 90-kilometer Ulot River, the longest river in Samar, is a thing of beauty. Surrounded by verdant forest and limestone karsts featuring dramatic rock formations, clear cascading waters stream through a setting that conceals a vast network of cave systems, including the Langun-Gobingob Cave, widely regarded as the biggest in the country and itself, the river once known as a distribution channel for illegal logging has now become an emerging adventure tourism destination.

Most of us, perhaps unknowingly, catch a glimpse of New Manila from the window of LRT line 2 as it passes by Gilmore station. Then teasers of it until the next two, when we hear the catchy announcement of "paparating na sa Betty-Go Belmonte," which marks the boundary of the former Mariana administrative division in Metro Manila, the Magdalena Estate, and now New Manila.

The town of General Nakar is a place that most people may be familiar with but likely have limited knowledge about. This rings true in my case. As I packed my stuff for the trip, I took a peek at its location on Google Maps and observed that it faces the Pacific Ocean and runs parallel to Polillo Island. Studying its position and knowing the geography around, it struck me that this town likely boasts a wealth of outdoor attractions, nestled as it is in the foothills of the Sierra Madre mountain range.

In what has become an annual tradition between technology giant Epson, a renowned global leader in innovative and sustainable technology solutions, and members of the media covering lifestyle and technology beats, this year's 15th edition of Epson Fusion saw us enjoying three days of fun under the sun in Shangri-la Mactan in Cebu, a property teeming with verdant foliage and surrounded by clear blue seawater.

Despite being politically autonomous from the province of Pampanga, where it is geographically located, Angeles City preserves every bit of Kapampangan culture, tradition, and history, as well as the famed cuisine that has made the province a top foodie destination in the Philippines.

Returning to Romblon with warm recollections of my first visit a decade ago had me on the verge of excitement. Instead of the stomach-churning 12-hour ferry voyage from Batangas, I'm flying with Air Swift this time.

The city of Iloilo is likely home to the most number of museums in the country. Within its roughly 79 square kilometer area, one can find several museums that will satisfy one's curiosity about arts, heritage, and history. These include the Museo Iloilo, the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Philippine Economic History, the National Museum of Western Visayas, the Museum of Philippine Maritime History, and even the University of San Agustin campus in the city has its own archives and museum.

The scene was reminiscent of a disaster movie, with gloomy skies, heavy rain, and dozens of us huddled together on a floating jetty made of plastic pontoon cubes, waiting for our boat. Everything I imagined from experiencing a pleasant morning on the island seemed to have a near-zero chance of happening.

When my fascination with India began piquing my curiosity during my college years, I'd come across the name of Rabindranath Tagore, who, like his contemporary, our very own Jose Rizal, was born in the same year in 1861, and together, they also shared the distinction of being a writer, poet, and social reformer.

Walking thousands of steps in the midst of a sunny afternoon would be taxing under normal city conditions. Well, up in the highlands of Ifugao and in the middle of Mayoyao's rice terraces, this kind of undertaking looks like something out of a well-shot film.

Lake Holon, with its picture-perfect backdrop and spectacular natural features carved by Mother Nature over millions of years, is without a doubt one of Mindanao's, if not the Philippines', most beautiful destinations.

Having celebrated its four hundredth anniversary this year, Tainan continues to hold dear the ancient culture of Taiwan. It is the country's oldest city and once served as the capital of Formosa—the previous name of Taiwan—for two hundred sixty years, spanning the rule of the Dutch, the Kingdom of Tungning, and finally, the Qing Dynasty.

Imagine Taipei, but more relaxed. That is how I would describe Kaohsiung, Taiwan's second-largest city. Despite being laid-back, the city has evolved into a thriving metropolis brimming with modern living necessities such as charming cafes, walking paths, cycling routes, outdoor parks, museums, jazz bars, and art districts, all surrounded by adjacent beaches and expansive, lush, forested mountains.

Cagayan, situated on the northern tip of Luzon, typically gives visitors second thoughts due to the 12-hour or longer land journey from Manila. Doubt no more, wanderers; there are daily direct flights from Manila to Tuguegarao, the province's capital city, and the plethora of natural, cultural, and historic landmarks make a long-distance trip to Cagayan well worthwhile for those who choose to drive.

When I signed up for this trip, I expected to explore the Caraga region that includes the five provinces of the Sur and Norte parts of Surigao and Agusan, as well as Dinagat Island. Little did I know that in the province of Davao Oriental, there is a municipality also called Caraga that claims its name from the word kalagan, which in native language refers to a "spirited person.”

When one mentions the word lanterns, understandable concerns about the environment usually follow. Where would the lanterns land? Who would clean up the debris? Questions regarding the environmental impact of the recent Lantern Festival in Tainan, a city in southern Taiwan, should be put to rest. The festival is now in its thirty-fifth year and is staged as part of the sustainable tourism program run by the Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA). Instead of sending lanterns soaring into the sky, the Lantern Festival features a variety of colorful, artistically designed, and LED-lit lanterns that remain fixed on land—displayed beautifully throughout the festival's duration that lasted a couple of months.

As Philippine festivals go, the bigger and brighter, the better. That rings true for popular ones like the Sinulog in Cebu, Dinagyang in Iloilo, Ati-Atihan in Kalibo, Pahiyas in Lucban, and Panagbenga in Baguio, just to name a few. Unbeknownst to most, several locations across the archipelago are staging their own little-known festivals that are equally well worth the effort to witness.

It was an eye-opener to experience the Ati-Atihan for the first time. That was the case back in 2012. The second time in 2015 was a glorious return, capped off by drinking a Red Horse beer poured over a still-unused toilet bowl plunger (thank God). The third one in 2018 was, without a doubt, a charm, celebrating it with my friends Karla and Erica. When the opportunity to attend the Ati-Atihan for another time came about, I expected it to be a toss-up between me experiencing a case of the "same-same" or having a great time.

A few years ago, when typhoon Odette pummeled southern Philippines but luckily spared parts of Northern Palawan, we found a pleasant refuge and downtime at Sunlight Ecotourism Island Resort (SETIR) on Culion Island during the tail end of our Coron, Palawan trip. We eventually made it to Culion after two days of island hopping and getting holed up in another Sunlight property in Coron town hotel while weathering the storm.

Kilyawan Farm Resort, named after a bird commonly observed on the property in Ibaan, Batangas, is bathed in natural light and surrounded by verdant greens teeming with farm-to-table produce, which complements its ecologically constructed cabins radiating with earth tones.