Because of the province's geographical position facing the mighty Pacific Ocean, surf-worthy waves pound the shorelines of Surigao Del Sur all year round. For many, this becomes a compelling reason to get stoked in the province. Conversely, the gifts Mother Nature brings to this sea don’t end at the surface. Beneath the mammoth swells hides an underwater gem teeming with some of the healthiest coral reefs in the country.

The first time I cruised aboard an inter-island ferry boat was many years ago. Our destination was Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. Wide-eyed with wonder, I found myself swimming in crystal-clear waters and frolicking over white sandy beaches for the first time in my adolescent life. Sandwiched in our ocean fun spree was a hiking trip to Mount Malasimbo. A year after that, I returned with my mates from the UST Mountaineering Club for our induction climb to Mount Halcon.

Off the coast of Cauayan in Negros Occidental lies a forty-five-hectare islet teeming with a rich set of biodiversity. Danjugan Island is home to a diverse range of wildlife species—most notably the rare Philippine scrubfowl. One might say, “We’ve heard this story before”—of an island in our country swarming with natural gems, only to see it destroyed by misguided development. The case with Danjugan is entirely different. Thanks to a dedicated conservation program, this one-and-a-half-kilometer-long island that was once threatened by illegal fishing is now a protected marine sanctuary and a gold-standard model for nature conservation.

Situated right smack at the center of the Ortigas Business District, Jinjiang Inn is a modest six-story property stripped of the imposing grandeur of a larger hotel, but it maintains a comfortable and laid-back sense that appeals to both business and leisure travelers. In the world of always-on-the-move travelers, accommodation providing a great bang for the buck is always a source of deep gratification.

“It’s the thought that counts,” as the old saying goes whenever we give and receive gifts from our family and friends during the holiday season. This, however, doesn’t mean we should just slack off when choosing the gifts we will buy for our loved ones. Because out there, beyond the reaches of the usual giant malls, are awesome items being sold online by various groups of people and local communities all over the country. These are local products that may not be popular yet as gift ideas—but appear to be the perfect ones to hand out this Christmas season.

“I come with the rain,” I muttered to myself while I watched the last sheen of daylight give way to dark clouds, casting over the countryside and heading to Bandung. I spent the three-hour train ride from Jakarta uneventfully fighting off sleep as I opted to stare at the passing lush scenery as much as I could.

When one thought of places to see in Thailand outside of Bangkok, most people would cite Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Phuket, and Pattaya as just some of the most popular locations. Almost no one mentioned a hidden gem of a place called Nakhon Phanom.

Taking over the place of an abandoned railway station in the Chatuchak district of Bangkok, the Ratchada Train Market spread out on an open-air field dotted with colorful tents selling the top of the pops of Thailand's street food culture, along with clothing items and an endless array of fascinating trinkets to fill up your suitcase—or if you were like me, your backpack.

Whenever I travel solo, I heed my own wallet’s calling, so I always end up staying in hostels. Even though traveling around the Philippines may present a challenge—since most cities still do not have hip hostels that are easy on the pocket—in recent years, I’ve seen a steady increase in this type of accommodation, fitting the budget of backpackers in many locations.

People often associated the Mekong River exclusively with Vietnam. Unbeknownst to many, the mighty Mekong stretched a long distance and drew out amply, forming a sub-region inside the vast Asian continent. The countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and even China, were all needled together by the Mekong River.

I used to think Hotel Benilde was simply a high-rise playground building for culinary and Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) students from the College of Saint Benilde. I am guilty of downplaying the establishment as merely having the basic necessities needed for elevated education, assuming it was still not up to par with industry standards. Oh man, how mistaken I was—when, after stepping foot inside its lobby, I quickly noticed how everything is run professionally, just like the other fancy hotels I’ve been to.

We had been navigating the highway out of Marawi City, passing by fertile fields for almost a couple of hours, when we turned onto a narrow road leading to a small town. An eerie silence reigned over our group as our van rolled to a stop in front of a mosque riddled with bullets. "We’re almost here," I heard someone exclaim. I looked out the window and immediately saw a group of teachers amiably welcoming us.

Over a year since the end of the Marawi Siege has passed, and most of the residents of Lanao Del Sur are still reeling from the effects of the five-month battle between government forces and the ISIL terror group composed of the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist organizations. While the long road to recovery is expected to take years, there are organizations stepping up to the challenge to help in the rehabilitation of those affected by implementing and supporting various livelihood projects.

I remembered sitting inside a cramped van negotiating the snaking countryside road of Laos, feeling very excited as I reached my next destination. My high anticipation stemmed from the desire to unlock the truth behind the prevailing word-of-mouth on Luang Prabang. “The place is so laid-back,” fellow travelers would often rave. As simple as it might be, that description was music to my ears. Throw in the heritage structures and rich culture of the city, my giddiness got the best of me for the rest of my ride.

We were dead set on summiting Mount Daraitan on this beautiful sunny day. However, while fueling up with a hot bowl of lomi at Barangay Daraitan, a guide from the tourism office suggested Mt. Mamara. "The hike is easier, but the view is equally spectacular as in Daraitan," he told us in Tagalog. While I was silently considering his advice, I waited for my friends Christine and Ferdz's decision if we would take a vote on what mountain to day-hike. There was silence—except for the sound of our slurping—for a few seconds before Christine made a final decision for our group: "Mt. Mamara it is then."

Philippine Airlines is continuing to step up the quality of service and comfort level of its short-haul international flights with the introduction of the Airbus A330. Today, PAL passengers can now safely enjoy a very convenient 4-hour journey to Bangkok with the helpful addition of the cool, modern features of the A330.

This specific Airbus model is normally used by most commercial airlines on long-haul flights that span at least eight hours of travel time. By actively opting to fly this dandy of a state-of-the-art plane on a brief hop to a busy city like Bangkok, it only heavily shows how serious Philippine Airlines is when it comes to providing more value for airfare to its passengers.

Bangkok had been synonymous with shopping, food tripping, temples, and wild night parties—especially at the infamous Khao San Road. More often than not, parents would leave their kids at home when visiting Bangkok because of the fear they would get bored, as opposed to traveling to Hong Kong and Tokyo, where the worlds of Disneyland abounded.

French philosopher Voltaire once said that “illusion is the first of all pleasures”—and one of its finest forms was the trickery of our visual sense. Bangkok’s 3D Art in Paradise did just that through its artworks daubed vividly on the walls and other installations conveying images of a different realm.

If seeing the images on television news isn't bad enough, the moment we walked inside the Marawi siege’s 'ground zero’, reality shook me real bad. Tilted buildings plastered with bullet and rocket holes, homes beyond recognition, and personal items strewn on the road—clothes, suitcases, stuffed toys—left behind by fleeing civilians, are simply too much to process.

Outside ground zero, we met some survivors eager to tell their stories. After losing everything, all they have now are narratives of survival. I took a few photos, and with each click of my camera, I felt the grim scenes stabbing my heart.